A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with a Muslim inmate in Arkansas in his challenge to a prison rule that barred him from wearing a half-inch beard for religious reasons.

Justice Samuel Alito Jr., writing for the court in Holt v. Hobbs, said the policy violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, which bars substantial government restrictions on prisoners’ religious practices unless they serve a compelling interest. The state said the policy was needed to keep inmates from hiding contraband or changing their appearance if they escape.

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