British shoe bomber Richard Reid is suing US prison authorities over his harsh prison conditions. The Londoner is being helid in a maximum security jail in Colorado for attempting to explode his sneakers blow up an American Airlines flight in December 2001. But he has appealed to a judge to be allowed the "same rights and privileges as other inmates" at the prison. Reid is trying to end his isolation and lack of access to Arabic-language religious books. In May, prison authorities told the inmate he had been placed on special administrative measures. These restricted his access to letters, the media, telephone and visitors. A federal prison official told him it was because "there is a substantial risk that your communications or contacts with persons could result in death or serious bodily injury." In his case, Reid, 31, said his cell had a window but he could not see out of it. |