A new ruling has granted pagan inmates in British prisons the right to keep twigs in their cells for use as wands, the U.K.’s Daily Mail newspaper reported Monday.
The policy, announced by Justice Reform Minister Maria Eagle, gives prisoners the right to carry and decorate the twigs for use in their rituals, the Mail reported. It’s the latest in a string of reforms to protect the religious rights of prisoners.
"Prison service policy is to enable prisoners of different faith traditions, including paganism, to practice their religion,” Eagle told the Mail.
The “wands” will join items such as prayer mats as acceptable religious artifacts.
A prisons spokesman said the ruling sounds “like an April Fool’s Day joke.”
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