Rastafarian Forced to Shave Dreadlocks in Prison, Sparking Lawsuit

A Rastafarian man says that he was forced to shave off his dreadlocks in prison, and he is now suing. The United States Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case, and the outcome could be interesting. Just last week, we wrote about a case involving Native American inmates who could not follow their indigenous faiths. This case is relatively similar, and it highlights the various religious legal issues that surround prisons in the United States. 

Louisiana Prison Guards Shave Dreadlocks in 2020

This case stems from a 2020 incident in a Louisiana prison. When a new inmate was being processed, the guards noticed that he had long dreadlocks. They then ordered the man to sit in a chair, handcuffed him, and forcibly shaved off his dreadlocks. He had been growing them for two decades prior to the incident. The inmate also reportedly showed the guards a copy of a court ruling, which stated that dreadlocks are eligible for a religious accommodation if grown for religious reasons. However, the guards ignored this. 

In the aftermath, the State of Louisiana condemned the mistake and took steps to ensure it would never happen again. However, they did not allow the inmate to sue. Now, the Supreme Court will decide whether this inmate should have the right to sue. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act was passed in 2020, and it should have protected this Rastafarian’s right to religious hair. He is now seeking monetary damages for what he experienced. It is also worth noting that prior to having his hair forcibly shaven, this individual was allowed to keep his hair long at two previous facilities. Specifically, he was able to put his hair under a special “rasta cap.”

What Is Rastafarianism?

Rastafarians believe in the Bible, although they interpret its teachings in a different way. They believe in a monotheistic God called “Jah,” and they also believe that Jesus Christ was reincarnated as the Emperor of Ethiopia in the 1930s. They believe that the West is “Babylon,” while Africa is the promised land or “Zion.” A core part of their belief system is the growing of dreadlocks and smoking marijuana. It first arose in Jamaica. 

Interestingly, Rastafarians believe themselves to be the descendants of the Biblical Israelites. They believe that modern Jews are not the real descendants of the people who lived in Israel at the time of Jesus Christ, and they also reject the traditional depiction of Jesus. Specifically, they believe that Jesus was actually black. 

Is Rastafarianism a Real Religion?

Rastafarianism is a real religion under US law. It meets many of the requirements for religious status, and its legitimacy is firmly established in case law. That being said, Rastafarianism lacks a formal organizational structure, unlike many other “legal” religions in the United States. There are no priests of this religion, and there are no churches. However, there are a few “houses” within the Rastafarian world that sub-divide the followers. 

However, not everyone believes that Rastafarianism is a true religion. Perhaps most notably, the Rastafarians themselves reject this label. Instead, they see it as a philosophy or way of life. Other people on the outside have referred to this faith as a cult. Whatever the case may be, it is the legal status in US courts that matters most, especially in regard to this upcoming case. 

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

Each month, various cases test the nature of religious rights in this country. While the basis for many religious rights is the United States Constitution, there are still countless cases that question the exact nature of these rights. The Universal Life Church’s blog is focused on documenting the most noteworthy of these cases in an objective manner that can be easily understood by readers.