To understand the scope of the prison conversion problem, consider that in the US, while Muslims make up 1% of the total population, they now make up 12-15% of the prison population, and an even higher percentage of the population in the most violent, maximum-security prisons. Between 2001 and 2014, a quarter-million prisoners converted, and the number keeps rising, ever more steeply, until it now stands at 40,000 per year.
In Australia, almost all of the inmates in the Supermax (High Risk Management Correctional Centre) are Muslim, with only a handful of non-Muslims. Of the Muslim inmates in Supermax, those serving sentences for non-terrorism-related violent criminal offences (including murder, etc.) are inmates “who converted to Islam behind bars.” The Australian reported that “Islam has become an obsession for the violent inmates […] inside Supermax.”
In France, of the total French prisoner population, “a significant proportion of them are converts” to Islam who converted in jail. In 2015, of the 67,500 prisoners behind bars, an estimated 70% were Muslim, despite Muslims comprising only 8% of the general French population. In some of the toughest urban prisons, like those near Paris and Marseille, the percentage of Muslim inmates is even higher.
In the UK, according to the “Muslim Prisoners’ Experiences” report by Chief Inspector of Prisons, Dame Anne Owens, conversion to Islam in prisons is attributed to converts seeking “support and protection in a group with a powerful identity” and “perceptions of material advantages of identifying as Muslim” in prison, including perks or “material benefits” available only to Muslims “such as more time out of their cell and better food during Ramadan if they become Muslim.”
Gerard Batten does not believe the Western world can afford to ignore this steady source of converts, some of whom — like Jose Padilla in the U.S. and several of the French terrorists — upon being freed engaged in acts of terror. That is why he has made the commonsensical suggestion that there be Muslim-only prisons. Only thus could non-Muslim prisoners be protected from Muslims who both threaten them — leading to many conversions for safety’s sake — and who attempt to persuade them to convert, to obtain all the benefits, psychic (a sense of belonging, a sense of discipline) and practical (better food, more time outside cells for communal daily prayers) that converting to Islam seems to offer.
But could it ever be possible? In the United States, given the Equal Protection of the Laws clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which applies to the states, and is also held to apply to the Federal government through the Due Process clause of the Fifth Amendment, it would be impossible to establish Muslim-only prisons. Such prisons would almost certainly be held to violate the Equal Protection clause. And if it were suggested that such a prison be built, and the issue were litigated, it is hard to imagine that the government could offer an interest strong enough to withstand the highest level of review, that of strict scrutiny. No Supreme Court is going to conclude that the government has an interest so great in separating Muslim and non-Muslim prisoners that it trumps the Constitutional principle. What government would dare to state that it had “an overriding interest in minimizing the number of conversions to Islam”? It couldn’t be done, even if we can see the baleful effects of those prison conversions, which might be prevented by completely separating Muslim from non-Muslim prisoners.
The United Kingdom does not have either a written constitution, or anything in its “unwritten” constitution that prevents such segregation by religion, if the justification for it were to be national security. But in the U.K. as well it would be difficult, in the current climate, to publicly recognize why the number of Muslims in the West is indeed a security matter. The converts tend to be among the most fanatical in their faith, and they do not leave the faith if and when they are finally freed.
But by raising the issue of prison conversions, Gerard Batten has performed a great service. It’s something that to be forced, in this attention-getting way, into the consciousness of the British people, so that the problem can be properly discussed. For example, if in a particular prison there is a very high percentage of Muslims — say, 70%, which is what is standard in French prisons — could it not be argued that this creates conditions in which the non-Muslim prisoners are terrified, and could testify as much? Is it impermissible to take their minimum needs for security into account, merely to satisfy an abstract principle that nothing need be done to increase, or decrease, any particular group’s percentage in the population of this or that prison? What if a prison were 90% Muslim? Would there then not be a justified concern about the safety of the non-Muslims who are, according to the Qur’an, “the most vile of creatures”? Would they not be under intolerable pressure to convert to Islam simply in order to stay safe? Are prison authorities really supposed to not notice such things? Don’t they have some duty of care to the non-Muslim prisoners that requires their not feeling afraid of Muslim fellow prisoners? Exactly how many more guards must they provide, to prevent Muslim prisoners threatening non-Muslims? Wouldn’t it be much cheaper simply to follow Batten’s suggestion?
Andy says
First of all Moslems should not be in ANY JUDEO-CHRISTIAN Civilized Country. but we all know that it is too late now, The enemy is already in the gate.
So yes, Keep Moslems in there own prison.
Andy says
Batten: “Tommy Robinson is on our side in regards to #Brexit”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXBFqc_U5-g
Renate says
The more I hear about Gerard Batten, the more I like him. He’s the only British politician who seems willing to deal with issues related to Islam. Prime Minister Gerard Batten…has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Andy says
GB for GB!
Grizzly says
And I’d like to see Maxine Bernier as Prime Minister of Canada. Unfortunately he had a split with the Conservative Party & I think voting for him would only split the opposition to Justin Trudeau’s vile Liberal & hand him another mandate to misgovern.
I think, at this time, Mr. Bernier should mend fences with the Conservatives (& Andrew Scheer be more accommodating) so we don’t have the mess of Trudeau continue.
Andy says
If Canadians don’t vote out the lieberal Trudeau, globalist traitor in 2019, The end of Canada will be nigh.
Canada will go down the path of the UK being taken over by people who have no intention of integrating or becoming a part of the society already in place.
The only hope for Canadians it seems at the present moment is Bernier or Sheer and with the vote split it looks very dicey for Canuks!
I personally have always voted for what is best for the Country and not for what is best for I, Me, Mine!
“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
I hope the Patriots of Canada will rise up to take back that Great Dominion!
Dominion of Canada (1867-1953) National Anthem “The Maple Leaf Forever”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr3T74rdNx8
Renate says
Maxine Bernier does sound impressive when he speaks.
FYI says
Yes,the name has a nice ring to it and it reminds me of a nautical expression.
To Batten down the hatches.
That’s what is needed in a crisis:someone like Mr Batten to “Batten down the hatches” of the UK.
And that reminds me of a sea shanty..”What will we do to the muslim raider{3 times}..early in the morning..weigh hey and up he rises..”
Renate says
I can just see that Gerard Batten is a man of goodwill. I would love to see him become the prime minister in England.
Grizzly says
There are, I believe, 26 Amendments to the US Constitution. Maybe it’s time for #27!
mortimer says
ISLAMIC DEPROGRAMMING classes are the way to go. Those who wish to stop ISLAMIZING should be treated like those who are SMOKING … namely, with an ISLAM-CESSATION PROTOCOL.
Here is an example of ABSOLUTE DEPROGRAMMING from Islam which should be a part of ALL PRISONS in Western countries:
Box of Islam by Hamed Abdel Samad (English) – Islam & Mafia Pt. 1 – Ep 01 (1-2)
Deprogramming Jihadists Using Historical-Ethical Argument
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YQoPhBgDD0&list=PLVgxTVb0qbJO4VF7CXROHvZcqDftk5TQV
Grizzly says
Is this guy still alive?!
eduardo odraude says
Probably. I expect he broadcasts from the non-Muslim world into the Muslim world. Lots of satellite dishes can be reached, I guess.
eduardo odraude says
Here he is in Germany:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8drM-2bEVNs
eduardo odraude says
And he also has the briefest of cartoon cameos in this great video by Douglas Murray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stR5nWkq3LU
Henry Mansfield says
Lesson for a non-Muslim regular guy?
I’ve been told that when thrust into a situation where one doesn’t know anyone it’s basic human psychology to expect being tested. While never having been in prison I have experienced being the ‘new guy’ a few times, and appearing weak or slow-witted will get one a lot more negative attention.
Knowing Islam as well as I do, I’d identify the ring-leaders and create some fear from the rest if I ever were to find myself in a prison with a high percentage of Muslims. I can imagine that for British men, having it explained properly that prison conversions have been one of the big drivers of growth would make them a little more hostile to the idea.
Tom S. says
Perhaps the way around the Constitutional issue is “Charter Prisons” much like charter schools. The courts might find that if any religion or ideology can build and operate a prison for the benefit of a target group (Christians in our case) then it is not a violation of the equal protection clause.
Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY) says
Under American law, it is bad enough that the Thirteenth Amendment abolished possession by the right hand, but to add insult to injury, the Fourteenth Amendment says that kafirs have the same rights as Muslims. Moreover, according to a hadith, the Prophet (cui sit pax) said that we must obey the cailiph, even if his head is as black as a raisin (Obama) or as orange as a carrot (Trump).
Must Muslim prisoners be given nighttime food and drink during Ramadan? Consider America’s northernmost habitation, the town formerly known as Barrow, Alaska, but now known as
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utqiagvik,_Alaska .
During Ramadan this year, the sun never set there, so all the Muslim inhabitants had to refrain from food and drink 24 hours a day for all 30 days of Ramadan. The omniscient Allah knew since before time began that this would happen during Ramadan in Utqiagvik in the year A.D. 2018. So did the Muslims there obey Allah’s prohibition against daytime eating, drinking, and sex? I don’t know, but weaselly ijtihadists have invented the doctrine of “necessity” as an excuse for disregarding Islamic requirements: because obeying the Ramadan rules would kill you, you don’t have to follow them.
The same applies to Muslims in prison: if your jailer won’t feed you at night, then, to borrow a phrase, “Muhammad must go to the mountain”.
Elisha says
“Wouldn’t it be much cheaper simply to follow Batten’s suggestion?”
Yes and people aboard the Titanic could’ve tried bailing out the incoming water with coffee cups. It’s too late, Hugh. The idea was to heed God’s warnings, not indulge in the philosophical delusion of Darwinism and expect no consequences. Socialism is why we have muslims in the West. No stranger creature than the Conservative atheist. The prosperity and freedoms of Western civilization, based upon Christian values, are something that have been taken for granted and spat upon by fools. Sow the wind …