Published: 8/4/2012

Appeals court rejects inmate's claim on name

BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

WICHITA, Kan. -- An appeals court said the U.S. justice system's refusal to recognize an inmate's new Muslim name does not violate the convict's religious rights.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Michael White failed to show it was unreasonable to deny his request to amend all records in his criminal case.

A lower court held that replacing the name Michael White with Abdul Hakeem Kareem Mujahid in all federal court records would create confusion.

Mujahid is serving 10 years at a prison in Colorado for killing another inmate at the federal prison in Leavenworth. A Kansas court granted his petition to change his name in December, 2010.

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