ICC Note: Pastor Michael Salman is a striking example of how persecution for one’s faith in Jesus can extend even to within the borders of the United States. While technically being imprisoned for violating zoning and fire codes with a home Bible study he was holding on his property, evidence strongly suggests that it was Pastor Salman’s faith and refusal to quit holding services of a religious nature that led to his harassment and eventual arrest by Arizona authorities. 
07/24/2012 United States (Examiner.com) – Michael Salman, a pastor from Arizona who is jailed for home bible studies continues to face persecution in prison.
Salman is currently serving a 60-day sentence with the potential to be longer depending on future proceedings in court. While in prison he continues to do that which put him there in the first place; holding bible studies.
Jail officials on one occasion last week dispersed a gathering of almost 20 inmates that Salman had together for a bible study. Officials threatened to put him “in the hole” if he didn’t cooperate. On another such occasion he was forced to work on Sunday instead of honoring the Sabbath.
Upon intervention from his attorneys who sent word to the Maricopa County Jail, Salman has been given new work duties that do not interfere with his religious beliefs. The Rutherford Institute has come out today with another such statement warning officials at the prison that by law they must allow Salman to practice his religion. His right to do so is under the United States Constitution, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and Arizona’s Free Exercise of Religion Act.
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