Pastor faces Probation for Home Study
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
PHOENIX, ARIZONA (Worthy News)– Arizona Pastor Michael Salman is looking at more than three years of probation along with monthly inspections because of the Bible study he led in his Phoenix home.
Salman is currently serving a 60-day jail sentence for violating city zoning code regulations formerly applied to only commercial properties.
Salman, who is is due to be released in September, faces ten days of house arrest and three-and-a-half years of probation; in addition, the city of Phoenix can carry out unannounced inspections of Salman’s property once a month in order to ensure he’s not holding Bible studies of more than 12 people.
One of Salman’s attourneys, John Whitehead, noted that zoning officials in Phoenix had no issues with family reunions, football parties, or Boy Scout meetings. However, harassment of the Salmans soon began after Phoenix officials concluded that residential religious activities had to be governed by building codes meant for churches and commercial buildings.