New South Wales: Muslim prisoners threaten others: Convert or be bashed

May 15, 2016

NON-Muslim jail inmates are being forced to convert to Islam by fellow prisoners using threats and violence against those who refuse.

The situation was exposed after several prisoners approached guards after a number of inmates were beaten up for refusing to convert. Three Muslim inmates believed to have been responsible for the forced conversions were then moved to separate jails. Sources said the inmates had requested an imam visit the jail to officially endorse the conversions but one was unable to attend before the offending prisoners were moved.

However, the consequences of reverting can be brutal, with one inmate being stabbed by fellow Muslims after shaving off his traditional beard for a parole hearing.

Recruitment of non-Muslims into the religion is also rife at Lithgow jail, with dozens of inmates making the switch, another source said. A department of Corrective Services spokesman confirmed at least six inmates had converted to Islam at Lithgow in the past six months.

He also confirmed that Goulburn jail now had a dedicated yard for Middle Eastern prisoners, but denied claims by prison sources that it had been introduced for the safety of non-Muslim prisoners.

Public Service Association Corrections branch chairman Steve McMahon said the forced conversions to Islam were “very concerning” and “most likely extremist-related”.

“The Muslims in jail are not upstanding citizens, unlike many of their colleagues who are upstanding citizens and don’t believe in violence,” Mr McMahon said. “These people are clearly doing it for some reasons other than their devotion to the faith and it is concerning in light of how dangerous some of these individuals have become.
“We’ve been witnessing a level of recruitment for many years now, primarily among indigenous inmates, but now we’re seeing younger inmates being targeted and conver-ted and we’re seeing some fairly concerning behaviour from some of those inmates.”