Chapter 30Shadi Ammar was third generation American. His great-grandfather legally immigrated to the United States from Turkey, first as a teenager on a school visa, and then stayed over on a work visa, and during the course of time, completed the steps necessary for obtaining his U.S. citizenship.
Although Islamic born and raised, prior to going to prison, Ammar was a non-practicing Muslim. Non-practicing in that he did what was required, and what was expected only to pacify his parents. During the frequent times of worship each day Ammar mindlessly moved through the motions until his eighteenth birthday.
At eighteen, Shadi simply stopped doing what was required or expected. Not quite emancipated, Shadi continued living with his parents; he kept his bedroom and ate his mother's home coo
