Muslim Prisons Suffering From Islamophobia İn British Jails

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Saturday expressed deep concern about an ever-increasing complaints it as been receiving from Muslim prisons suffering from Islamophobia in British jails.

"The problem is widespread, our caseload is not limited to Whitemoor, Belmarsh and Frankland (top security prisons)," IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh said.

Complaints ranged from the desecration of the holy Qur'an, strip searching male inmates in the presence of female guards armed with video cameras, removal of legal papers and use of dogs amongst other mistreatment.

The London-based human rights group reported that a large number of the prison cases 'consist of people arbitrarily and without evidence labeled radical'.

But Shadjareh warned that 'fear of radicalization should not be used as an excuse for legitimizing the rise of Islamophobia and racism'.

"There needs to be more cooperation with others in genuinely problem areas and finding ways to resolve them," he suggested.

The IHCR is an NGO with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It was set up in 1997 to work in partnership with different organizations from Muslim and non- Muslim backgrounds, to campaign for justice for all peoples regardless of their racial, confessional or political background.