Muslim Converts in Prison

Abstract:     
There has been something of a moral panic about individuals converting to Islam whilst incarcerated. A number of newspaper articles have suggested that within prisons there is a potentially toxic mix of extremist ideology and a criminal past. This article presents the results of a study exploring conversion to Islam within two prisons in England. The main findings suggest that for those individuals who convert to Islam in English prisons Islam provides them with a moral framework from which to rebuild their lives. As such, the positive work carried out by prison Imams needs to be supported more fully, particularly when resettling individuals who are newly released from jail. At the same time, Islam seems to help prisoners to cope more positively with the prison environment, reducing their propensity to aggression and violence.

Accepted Paper Series