John Walker Lindh - The Next Malcolm X?

According to Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, John Walker Lindh, now 25 years old, fits the description.

	John Walker Lindh

Lindh, of course, is the American Talib, "Johnny Walker Green," the Marin County youngster who converted to Islam and went off to Afghanistan to fight his conationals, was caught and sentenced to a 20-year prison sentence. Says Syed: "Prison has helped him become a better Muslim. He is a Malcolm X with a softer tone."

Syed, who has visited Lindh, also provided other information on Lindh's life in a medium-security federal prison in Victorville, California. He has become studious, stable and settled. He is a

model inmate who lives as normal a life as possible behind bars - but also is a spiritual beacon to other Muslims there. … Lindh lives with a cellmate, works a prison job and is allowed to mingle with other inmates, Syed said - but he is prohibited from talking about his experiences in Afghanistan, can't see visitors who aren't relatives or lawyers, and isn't allowed to speak Arabic. While Lindh was taunted with cries of "Traitor!" when he first came to Victorville, and was once attacked by another inmate, he now faces no threats to his safety and even has gained a measure of respect, Syed said. "He is an extremely well-liked, well-respected, model inmate in the system by the authorities as well as by the inmates," said Syed. … "Some of the inmates have come to sympathize with him because of his special restrictions."

Syed takes great pride in Lindh, saying, "His story is indeed a story that needs to come out, and needs to be shared with the world." (April 2, 2006)

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