LONDON, May 31 (IslamOnline) - Imams visiting British prisons are routinely exposed to racist bullying at the hands of correctional officers according to a recent report published in the respected Howard Journal.
The report, authored by former prison governor Professor David Wilson and lecturer Basia Spalek, reveals a disturbing trend inherent in the entire British prison system. The report is the first ever detailing the treatment of clerics from non-Christian faiths.
According to the report, imams are often called derogatory terms like "coons" and "pakis" and are subject to humiliation. They are forced to stand in line with common inmates by warders. The imams are also denied access to prison keys, which are freely given to Church of England Chaplains.
Researchers also accuse the Prison Service of being guilty of institutional racism because imams are denied the same privileges as Christian clergy who benefit from full-time jobs and inclusion in all prison chaplaincy meetings.
Ninety-three Imams are currently employed by the prison system to visit jails and are paid just over £10 an hour, mostly on a part time basis. Four mosques are provided for inmates in Pentoville and Wandsworth jails.
The report also found that any signs of improvement are due to deliberate attempts by imams to fit in, such as deliberately wearing non-traditional clothing.
The Commission for Racial Equality is also currently investigating the prison service after an increase in reports of racist attacks against prisoners.
The British government, in an effort to appease its significant Muslim minority, appointed Maqsood Ahmed as the Prison Service's first Muslim advisor in 1998 after 10 intensive years of lobbying.
Rev. William Noblett was appointed last month as the new chief of religion for the Prison Service to guarantee that spiritual needs of Muslims and other non-Christian groups were met.
Muslim prisoners are the fastest growing, and second largest group, in British prisons. Many of them have taken their shahada (pronouncement of Islam as their faith) while serving in prisons. There are currently 5000 Muslims in prison, as compared to 2000 six years ago.
