Muslim prisoners disproportionately subjected to force in UK prisons

Muslim inmates face disproportionate use of force in UK prisons, new data reveals

LONDON (MNTV) – A social justice charity has revealed significant disparities in the treatment of Muslim inmates across U.K. prisons, highlighting the frequent use of force, including pain-inducing techniques, against them. 

Data obtained through freedom of information requests shows that Muslim prisoners in eight out of nine prisons with high Muslim populations are more likely to face batons, rigid bar handcuffs, and deliberate painful restraint than other inmates.

In 2023, at Belmarsh prison, where Muslims made up 32% of inmates, they accounted for 61% of incidents involving pain-inducing techniques. 

Similarly, at HMP Whitemoor, Muslims formed 43% of the population but were subjected to 55% of such measures. 

In HMP Isis, 45% of prisoners were Muslim, yet they were involved in 57% of baton use incidents. Other prisons, including Feltham B and Woodhill, reported similarly disproportionate figures.

Only HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire showed lower force usage against Muslims compared to the overall prison population.

Maslaha, the charity behind the data collection, described the findings as exposing systemic targeting of Muslim prisoners. 

Raheel Mohammed, Maslaha’s director, accused prison staff of using force to humiliate and endanger Muslims disproportionately.

The Ministry of Justice reported that as of September 2024, Muslims accounted for 18% of the prison population despite being only 6.5% of the general population.

In response to these concerns, the Prison Service implemented a national framework last year to address racial disparities in force use. 

The findings underscore the urgent need for reforms to address racial and religious disparities in the U.K. prison system.