A Buddhist-Taoist-Confucian vegetarian and convicted heroin dealer is suing Alberta's provincial government, claiming that mistreatment in prison - including lack of vegetarian diet - has cost him hair, sex drive, and some vision. I think his vision began to blur somewhat before he was caught, however.

"...the plaintiff will require future psychological and medical treatment," says a statement of claim filed by (Nicholas) Chan.....Chan, who practises a combination of Buddhism, Chinese Taoism and Confucianism, "was required by his faith to practise a vegetarian diet," the claim says....Last year Chan attempted to have his conviction stayed on similar grounds. Justice Peter McIntyre upheld the conviction, but ruled that Chan's right to religious freedom was violated by his treatment.

Mmmmmm hmmmmm. Yes. Well.

I'd like to say there's no chance the government will be ordered to improve the prisoner's sex life. But I can't.

TECHNORATI TAGS: ALBERTA, VEGETARIAN, PRISONER, ABUSE, NICHOLAS CHAN, HEROIN DEALER, BUDDHIST, CONFUCIAN, TAOIST

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at April 1, 2006 09:49 PM