Attorney says Fort Hood shooting suspect prevented from praying in Arabic with family

Lawyer: Fort Hood suspect prevented from praying

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — An attorney for the man charged in the deadly shootings at Fort Hood says the Army has prohibited his client from praying in Arabic with his family.

Attorney John P. Galligan said police stopped a phone conversation between Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan and his brother on Friday because it was not in English. Galligan told the San Antonio Express-News that police at Brooke Army Medical Center refused to let Hasan pray in Arabic.

Galligan says he thinks that’s illegal and violation of Hasan’s religious rights.

Hasan has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the Nov. 5 attack.

The military has imposed restrictions requiring Hasan to speak only in English on the phone or with visitors unless an interpreter is present.

Information from: San Antonio Express-News, www.mysanantonio.com