Background

Muslims are being victimised, intimidated and discriminated at HMP Manchester on a gross scale. We had previously addressed some issues regarding HMP Manchester including threats of violence, and it seems that after subsiding slightly, these incidents have now flourished towards institutionalised racism. All of this is seemingly being allowed to continue by the Prison service through their inaction with a renewed venom.

The following details have been provided which offer a horrific insight into the situations that muslims are facing daily at the prison :-

a. Muslims are prohibited from wearing any religious material. This includes the muslim skullcap which is recommended for all those adhering to the Hanafi madhab to wear.

b. No more than three islamic books are allowed to be in the possession of an inmate. In contrast, it is our understanding that inmates may have more than 3 books provided they are not about Islam or Muslims

c. Muslims are placed immediately into the segregation unit for basic infringements, whilst white non-muslims for the same infractions are left unpunished.

d. Staff frequently make racist and derogatory comments towards muslim inmates.

e. Mail is returned from HMP Manchester if addressed to muslim inmates with the claim that the inmate is “Unknown”, despite a prison number being provided.

f. An inmate was prohibited from wearing civilian clothes to his court appearance, even though this is expressly permitted within the prison rules. His clothes were confiscated, together with his prayer mat, and was told by staff in a derogatory manner “Ramadans over”. He was forced to attend court in prison overalls.

g. Prisoners prayer mats were confiscated on the way to court, even though these are also permitted

With correspondence from prison rights organisations being deliberately frustrated, it makes one wonder what other secrets HMP Manchester are hiding which they are not disclosing. This is surely only the tip of the iceberg.

The prison service have an obligation to be transparent and to allow muslims to practice their religion freely.  This is expressly stated as follows :-

"the prison service is committed to racial equality. Improper discrimination on the base of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, or religion is unacceptable, as is any racial abuse or insulting language or behaviour on the part of any member of staff, prisoner or visitors, neither shall be tolerated".

- PSO 2800

It is clear that HMP Manchester is in breach of these guidelines through their rules which are directly applied to muslims alone. We call on HMP Manchester to immediately cease their discriminatory treatment of muslim prisoners.


Actions Required

Please send a letter to HMP Manchester expressing your disgust at the treatment of muslims at the prison.

Please send a copy of the letter to Anne Owers of the Prison Inspectorate as well as your MP, asking why there continues to be no action taken against the islamophobic and racist behaviour of staff at HMP Manchester

Key Contacts

Governor Richard Vince
HMP Manchester
1 Southall Street
Manchester
M60 9AH

Fax: 0161 817 5601

H M Prison Service
Parliamentary, Correspondence & Briefing Unit
Room 536
Cleland
Page Street
London
SW1P 4LN

FAX: 0207 217 6403 

Anne Owers, Prison Inspectorate
Ashley House
2 Monck Street
London
SW1P 2BQ
Tel 020 7035 2876
Fax 020 7035 2860
Email: mail@ppo.gsi.gov.uk


Sample Letter

Dear <NAME>,

I am writing to you to express my disgust by the discriminatory treatment being applied to muslims within HMP Manchester. Examples of this include prohibition of relgious headwear, being forced to attend court in prison uniform, mail failing to be delivered, racist and derogatory remarks being made to muslim inmates, restrictions on religious books and many other examples that for the sake of brevity I have omitted from this letter.

The prison service have an obligation to be transparent and to allow muslims to practice their religion freely.  This is expressly stated as follows :-

"the prison service is committed to racial equality. Improper discrimination on the base of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, or religion is unacceptable, as is any racial abuse or insulting language or behaviour on the part of any member of staff, prisoner or visitors, neither shall be tolerated".

- PSO 2800

It is clear that HMP Manchester is in breach of these guidelines through their rules which are directly applied to muslims alone.

I would therefore urge you to ensure that HMP Manchester adheres to the rules of the prison service and to ensure that muslim inmates are treated fairly and with respect.

I look forward to hearing from you to see what steps HMP Manchester will now take to eradicate the Islamophobic treatment that muslim inmates suffer on a daily basis.

Regards,
--------------------