ALIENATION of Muslim inmates at a high security prison may be fuelling religious extremism, according to the Chief Inspector of prisons.
A report by Anne Owers revealed a high degree of alienation among the 198 Muslims among the 913 inmates at Belmarsh prison, in Western Way, Thamesmead, and a general mistrust between them and staff.
Despite many Muslim prisoners being held on terrorism charges, the report, published last Tuesday, revealed staff were "insufficiently trained and supported" to counter the spread of extremist views to other Muslim inmates.
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It said: "There was a real danger the alienation of Muslim prisoners in general, and the suspicion with which they perceived they were treated, would in fact feed radicalisation."
In a survey on September 10 last year, distributed to all 878 prisoners, one Muslim inmate said: "I've had a racist joke made about my prayer mat. An officer called it a magic carpet and even the other officers were not happy.
"The staff perception of Muslims is quite negative.
"They tar all Muslims with the same brush."
Nearly two-thirds of the 116 Muslims who responded to the survey said they felt unsafe and less than half believed staff treated them with respect.
Muslim imams - the faith's prayer leaders - were introduced at Belmarsh in 1991, but Ms Owers said their roles needed to be strengthened in order to help improve relations between staff and inmates.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "A training programme has been developed with the Prison Service chaplaincy department and race equality action groups to raise staff awareness of the issues surrounding extremism and radicalisation."
Dr Tariq Abbasi, director of the Greenwich Islamic Centre, said: "We need to weed out the extremist elements from our communities and the government must work closely with the vulnerable communities."
In evidence given to a Home Office select committee last November, Belmarsh governor Claudia Sturt warned against demonising Muslims as a group.
She said: "The great majority of my Muslim prisoners have nothing whatsoever to do with Islamist extremism or terrorism, they are just people on criminal charges who happen to be Muslim."
Ms Owers remained positive about the latest report, however, and said: "In spite of its complexities and pressures, Belmarsh is now visibly moving in the right direction, and we hope to report on further progress at the next inspection."
Posted by: tasha, crayford on 5:06pm Tue 22 Apr 08
what a load of c**p! everyone that has commited a crime, no matter what religion should be punished in the same way! so what if they are muslim, this is england! they should be kept the way the english law have always kept prisioners! no one is treated well, thats the whole point of prision! punishment! i cant believe that this country is actually changing the system for them! this country is racist, but it is actually racist towards the british!
what a load of c**p! everyone that has commited a crime, no matter what religion should be punished in the same way! so what if they are muslim, this is england! they should be kept the way the english law have always kept prisioners! no one is treated well, thats the whole point of prision! punishment! i cant believe that this country is actually changing the system for them! this country is racist, but it is actually racist towards the british!
Posted by: Sweet Leaf, Home on 7:31pm Tue 22 Apr 08
Tasha,
Totally agree with you 100%, if you cant do the time then don't do the crime.
Whatever prison you are in in whatever country you should abide by those prisons laws.
Tasha,
Totally agree with you 100%, if you cant do the time then don't do the crime.
Whatever prison you are in in whatever country you should abide by those prisons laws.
I can see the logic in this. Those Muslims who have not committed terrorist offences or hatred for fellow humanbeings need to be protected from extremist views and not feel alienated or under suspicion because they share the same religion as those that are extremist.
I can see the logic in this. Those Muslims who have not committed terrorist offences or hatred for fellow humanbeings need to be protected from extremist views and not feel alienated or under suspicion because they share the same religion as those that are extremist.
i think we just have to realise all the time labour runs this country that britain is no longer for the BRITISH!! Anyone plotting to, or causes death and terror in our home lands should suffer the death sentence end of!!
i think we just have to realise all the time labour runs this country that britain is no longer for the BRITISH!! Anyone plotting to, or causes death and terror in our home lands should suffer the death sentence end of!!
[italic]In a survey on September 10 last year, distributed to all 878 prisoners, one Muslim inmate said: "I've had a racist joke made about my prayer mat. An officer called it a magic carpet and even the other officers were not happy.[/italic]
What a load of toffee. Some petty muslim harking on about his mat. You are not in the work office place now matey, your in prison because you have committed a crime. Get on with it and stop this petty nonsence.
In a survey on September 10 last year, distributed to all 878 prisoners, one Muslim inmate said: "I've had a racist joke made about my prayer mat. An officer called it a magic carpet and even the other officers were not happy.
What a load of toffee. Some petty muslim harking on about his mat. You are not in the work office place now matey, your in prison because you have committed a crime. Get on with it and stop this petty nonsence.
Posted by: American Republican on 3:14pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Sadly, We here in Texas are beginning to suffer your Islamofate. Thankfully, we have few restrictions on our firearms like yall do. We are all armed. Our folks are fighting this Islam krap.
Sadly, We here in Texas are beginning to suffer your Islamofate. Thankfully, we have few restrictions on our firearms like yall do. We are all armed. Our folks are fighting this Islam krap.
The British Isles are the home of my ancestors. It grieves me to think that, soon, I will not be able to go there because it has been GIVEN away. What can you people be thinking?
The British Isles are the home of my ancestors. It grieves me to think that, soon, I will not be able to go there because it has been GIVEN away. What can you people be thinking?
ahh, someone made fun of his rug that is just sooo mean and not even PC either. and they did this while he is in the boogie house as he is a convicted terrorist. all he did was to try to kill and mame as many people as possible. men woman, childrenand smalldogs.
just for that he was put in the "bad place" how shameful;
release him at once!
ahh, someone made fun of his rug that is just sooo mean and not even PC either. and they did this while he is in the boogie house as he is a convicted terrorist. all he did was to try to kill and mame as many people as possible. men woman, childrenand smalldogs.
just for that he was put in the "bad place" how shameful;
release him at once!
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