Muslims in Prison: Challenge and Change in Britain and France (Migration, Minorities and Citizenship)

The growth of Islam in Europe is reflected in the increasing numbers of Muslims in British and French prisons, but authorities have responded differently to the challenges presented by Muslim prisoners in each country. The findings of three years of intensive research in a variety of prisons show that British prisons facilitate and control the practice d of Islam, whereas French prisons discourage it and thereby sow the seeds of extremism. The policy implications of these ironic findings are examined in detail. The Authors Have Based Their Findings Upon Original Sociological Research Into The Different Responses Of British And French Authorities To The Increasing Numbers Of Muslims In Prison. Interviews With Inmates And Prison Staff In Various Prisons Show That Britain And France Make Sharply Different Provisions For The Practice Of Islam. The Well-established Practice Of Christian Chaplaincy In British Prisons Has Been So Well Adapted To The Needs Of Muslims That Islam Is Becoming Institutionalised And Cemented Into The Structure Of Prisons. By Contrast, French Prisons Provide Relatively Few Opportunities For Muslim Prisoners To Practice Their Religion Under The Leadership Of Qualified Imams. Consequently, Varieties Of Do-it-yourself Islam And Of Muslim Extremism Flourish Unofficially On The Margins Of French Prisons. The Book's Conclusions Point To The Different Policy Implications Of The British And French Ways Of Responding To Muslim Prisoners.--jacket. Aims, Access And Analysis -- Conceptual Framework -- Research Contexts -- The Practice Of Islam In Prison -- Islam, 'race' Relations And Discrimination In Prison -- Categorisation And Self-definition Among Muslim Prisoners -- Prison Imams. James A. Beckford, Danièle Joly And Farhad Khosrokhavar. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 289-294) And Index. The authors have based their findings upon original sociological research into the different responses of British and French authorities to the increasing numbers of Muslims in prison. Interviews with inmates and prison staff in various prisons show that Britain and France make sharply different provisions for the practice of Islam. The well-established practice of Christian chaplaincy in British prisons has been so well adapted to the needs of Muslims that Islam is becoming institutionalised and cemented into the structure of prisons. By contrast, French prisons provide relatively few opportunities for Muslim prisoners to practise their religion under the leadership of qualified imams. Consequently, varieties of do-it-yourself Islam and of Muslim extremism flourish unofficially on the margins of French prisons. The book's conclusions point to the different policy implications of the British and French ways of responding to Muslim prisoners