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Convicted killer says state won't let him practice religion

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A convicted killer has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state of Connecticut, saying he's not allowed to practice his religion in prison.

Kevin Harris is serving a life sentence for a 1993 murder in Bristol. He is a member of the Nation of Gods and Earths, an offshoot of the Nation of Islam more commonly known as the Five Percenters.

The group promotes black empowerment, teaching that men of color are Gods.

According to court papers, the state has classified the Nation of Gods and Earths as a ``Disruptive Group,'' similar to a prison gang.

Karen Martucci, a Correction Department spokeswoman, declined to comment on the department's reasoning, citing the pending litigation.

The department's administrative directives allow officials to ban religious practices if they are a safety threat.

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