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Islam is amongst the many prison religions that can be found in the U.S. penal system. In addition to immigration, the state, federal and local prisons of the United States may be a major contributor to the phenomenal growth of Islam in the country. Official estimates suggest that roughly 80% of the prisoners who "find faith" while in prison convert to Islam and that the percentage of Muslim inmates is 15-20% of the prison population.
Radicalization of inmates
According to the testimony of Dr. Michael Waller before the US Senate subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, radical Islamist groups, most tied to Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi organizations suspected by the U.S. government of being closely linked to terror financing activities, dominate Muslim prison recruitment in the U.S. and seek to create a radicalized cadre of felons who will support their anti-American efforts. Due to their efforts, the population of Muslim inmates has reached approximately 350,000 (in 2003) with 30,000-40,000 added each year. These converted inmates are mostly African American with a small but growing Hispanic minority.
However, according to Harley G. Lappin, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons, “There are approximately 9,600 Muslim inmates, which is 5.5 percent of the inmate population" It should however be noted that this number only includes the federal inmates (not local and state ones). Also it does not include the inmates who belong to the American adaptations of Islam like Nation of Islam (which is popular among many inmates especially African-Americans) Also, Paul E. Rogers, President of the American Correctional Chaplains Association has stated “Regarding reports of prisons being infiltrated by terrorists or terrorist organizations via prison religious programs, these have been blown way out of proportion.” Some people like Chuck Colson, the head of Christian-based Prison Fellowship Ministries have expressed views similar to Dr. Waller's research. According to Colson, one out of every six inmates in America's prisons is an adherent to Islam, and the faith especially appeals to minorities. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed written in June, Colson wrote, "Al Qaeda training manuals specifically identify America's prisoners as candidates for conversion because they may be 'disenchanted with their countries' policies.'"
The ten Muslim Chaplains and some prison staff who were interviewed by the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Justice said that other inmates, and not outside volunteers, are the main cause of inmate radicalization. In light of this, the chaplains they interviewed express concern for prison facilities without adequate Islamic resources leaving religious services in the hands of inmates. However, the Bureau of Prisons has chosen not to hire an Islamic Chaplain since 2001. Also, the FBI’s Assistant Director for the Counterterrorism Division, John Pistole, testified before the committee: "Terrorists seek to exploit our freedom to exercise religion to their advantage by using radical forms of Islam to recruit operatives. Unfortunately, U.S. correctional institutions are a viable venue for such radicalization and recruitment.” The FBI has identified prisons as venues "that present opportunities for the proselytizing of radical Islam" and attributes this radicalization to "contract, volunteer, or staff imams" who preach anti-American sermons. It has identified these American Muslim inmates as homegrown Islamist extremists.
See also
Notes
- United State Senate, Committee on the Judiciary , Testimony of Dr. Michael Waller, Annenberg Professor of International Communication, The Institute of World Politics, October 12, 2003
- United State Senate, Committee on the Judiciary, Testimony of Mr. Harly G. Lappin, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons, October 14, 2003
- United State Senate, Committee on the Judiciary, Testimony of Mr. Paul Rogers, President of the American Correctional Chaplains Association, October 12, 2003
- CNS News Service, November 14, 2002
- http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/0404/final.pdf
- http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress06/vanduyn092006.htm
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