Dear
I am writing to protest at the fact that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is operating a ban on the study, use and possession of Runes for adherents of the Holy Religion Odinism, (also know as Asatru) within the Texas prison system. As an Odinist myself I know that the study and use of Runes is an integral part of our Holy Religion. Odinism is a holistic Religion, of which the Runes are a vital part. If the Runes are banned, you are therefore denying the adherent of their religious rights and therefore any such ban is in fact a violation of the law on several levels.
Article 1, section 3a of the Texas State Constitution states: Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, colour, creed, or national origin. This amendment is self-operative. (Added
Nov. 7,1972.) Article 1, section 6 of the Texas State Constitution states: All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship according to the dictates of their own consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as maybe necessary to protect equally every religious
denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship. Article 1, section 6 of the
Texas State Constitution states: Every person shall be at liberty to speak, write or publish his opinions on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege; and no law shall ever be passed curtailing the liberty of speech or of the press. In prosecutions for the publication of papers, investigating the conduct of officers, or men in public capacity, or when the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence. And in all indictments for libels, the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalised Persons Act was passed by Congress on July 27, 2000 and signed into law by President Clinton on September 22. It provides federal remedies to protect the freedom of religious assemblies and institutions to use their property to fulfil their missions. It also protects the religious rights of institutionalised persons. Aspects of this ban on a vital part of our faith are included within the body of this law.
The TDCJ have stated that the ban on Runes is because prisoners may use them as a code. This reasoning is completely flawed as any alphabet or numerical system can be used as a code. To single out the runes, which are amongst other things, the alphabet of the North European people, and to ban them in this way is in fact a racist act as well as an act of religious persecution. Such an unjust ban is more surprising as Texas is the
President, G W Bush’s home state, and it is he that has set an example and made a point of removing regimes which deny religious rights. Perhaps the President should look closer to home for the next regime change!
I would ask that you give this matter serious consideration and respectfully ask that adherents of Odinism be given the same religious rights as those of other religions.
I thank you for your time and honest consideration.
Yours Sincerely