London Prisons See Surge in Islamic Conversions Among Inmates

From 2015 to 2018, in four years, 255 inmates in London prisons converted to Islam, while 209 became Christians and 92 adopted other religions.

Despite this predominance of conversions to Islam, each of the eight prisons in London (Brixton, Belmarsh, Pentonville, Feltham Young Offender Institution, Wandsworth, Thameside, Wormwood Scrubs and Isis) has more Christian prisoners than Muslim.

According to the rules set out in PSI 05/2016, any inmate who wishes to change their religion and requests that it be taken into account in their dietary and other habits must complete a consent form on which it is written that "changing religion is an important decision that can affect you, your family and your relationships inside and outside prison."

Thus, the prison must ensure that no prisoner changes their religious affiliation under pressure. Similarly, an inmate who abandons one religion for another is not required to give the reasons for their choice.

"Religion in prisons plays an important role in rehabilitation. The prison service recognizes and respects the right of inmates to practice the religion of their choice during their detention," said an official from the Ministry of Justice, who added that "each prison has a chaplaincy team of various faiths."