Reports of Forced Religious Conversions by Extremist Gangs in UK Prisons

Recent reports in the UK have renewed concerns regarding the influence of extremist gangs within the country's prison system. Nick Timothy, the Shadow Justice Secretary for the Conservative Party, cited data showing that one in five Muslim prisoners in the UK are white, and urged the Labour government to take immediate action against the phenomenon of 'forced conversions.' He alleged that Islamist gangs control parts of the prisons and that conversion has become a means for inmates to ensure their own safety.

Jonathan Hall, the UK's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, confirmed in his 2022 report, 'Terrorism in Prisons,' that he had secured evidence of Islamist terrorists acting as 'self-styled emirs.' According to the report, these individuals use implicit or actual violence, material gifts, and influence over vulnerable prisoners to coerce or recruit them into converting.

Colin Bloom, a British government advisor, also reported in his findings that in some prisons, extremist gangs place Qurans on the beds of new inmates, presenting them with a choice between 'converting or facing violence.' He stated that the high rate of conversion to Islam in prisons defies conventional logic and requires closer scrutiny by prison management.

In response to these reports, the UK Ministry of Justice stated that 'faith-based coercion' is not tolerated in prisons. A spokesperson emphasized that following the review by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has improved its ability to identify and disrupt extremist gang activity through advanced training and data collection. The ministry also noted that terrorist prisoners have been banned from holding official positions during corporate worship.