London: Muslim radicalisation

Khevyn Limbajee and Andrew Cryan
Politics Show London

Islamic terrorism is one of the most sensitive and important issues in London today. Politics Show London investigates how Muslims could become radicalised by spending time in Britain's prisons.

Since 7/7, trying to stem the tide of extremism, without alienating the Muslim community, has been at the top of the government's agenda.

Money has been pledged. Task groups have been set up. However, none of these resources have focused on the role prisons can play in the radicalisation of British Muslims.

Ismail Kazim is Turkish and Muslim. On and off, he has spent 18 years in prison.

Talking about his time inside he says: "I've seen imams not liking white people. I've seen some racist ones they brainwash young people. You follow them, whatever they say".

Ismail Kazim: Spent 18 years in prison

Muslims in prison

Over the last decade, the number of Muslims in our prisons has trebled.

In the UK, there are now 7,000 people of Islamic faith behind bars. All have access to an Imam.

No one would suggest that all Imams abuse their position or use it to preach a radicalised message, but the worry is that some are.

Imam Sajid, Chairman Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony highlights this concern: "Imams have always been making a point to recruit inmates to become Muslims ... and some imams were trying to radicalise them to certain ideology."

One of Britain's most notorious terrorists is Richard Reid, the man arrested on an aeroplane after trying to set light to an explosive device in his shoes.

Reid had converted to Islam whilst in Feltham Young offenders Institute.

Although the incident on the plane happened some years after he had become a free man, many believe that it was when he was inside that he first became exposed to the radicalised strain of Islam that justifies this kind of killing.

That was, however, some years ago. Since then, the government policy on Imams in our prisons has changed - better pay for prison Imams and a much more vigorous selection process.

However, this was all done before the bombings in July 2005, and was instigated with the aim of providing pastoral care for the Muslim prison population and not to prevent the radicalisation of prisoners.

Private matter

Not everyone agrees that it is the government's job to become involved in what can be seen as private religious matters.

Massoud Shadjareh, from the Islamic Human Rights Commission feels this way: "For a secular government to get involved, into Islam clergy and how we behave, it is outrageous because what it says in reality is Islam equals terrorism ... all Imams equal promoting terrorism and it's outrageous".

Outrage, alienation and discrimination are all factors that can lead people of any faith to take a radical political stance.

They are also things that our Muslim prison population face, often on a daily basis.

As Enver Solomon from the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies explains: "It's more about Islamophobia in prisons than radical Imams that can make inmates radical.

"Experiencing a situation of them and us, racism can push Muslims into taking up extreme positions after they leave prison."

Radicalism amongst our Muslim population, not only in London, but across the United Kingdom is an ever present and constant issue.

Tacking and dealing with this threat, not only in society as a whole but also in our prison population, must be put firmly on the Government's agenda.

Politics Show

Join Politics Show on BBC One on Sunday 23 October 2005 at Noon with Tim Donovan.

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