Concerns Rise Over Islamist Extremism and Forced Conversions in UK Prisons

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Concerns Rise Over Islamist Extremism and Forced Conversions in UK Prisons

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Reports indicate a growing concern regarding Islamist extremism and alleged forced conversions within the UK prison system. Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data, publicized by Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy on August 25, 2026, reveals that the Muslim population in prisons in England and Wales has increased to 16,051 as of June 30, 2025, up from 14,037 in 2022. This constitutes about 18% of the total prison population, significantly higher than the 6.5% of Muslims in the general UK population.

A particularly striking statistic is that one in five Muslim prisoners is white, a figure nearly three times the rate of white individuals within the wider Muslim population. This disparity has fueled calls for an urgent investigation into whether vulnerable inmates are being pressured into converting to Islam.

Previous government reviews have also raised concerns. A 2016 MoJ review identified “aggressive encouragement of conversions to Islam” as a manifestation of Islamist extremism, noting that charismatic extremist prisoners, sometimes self-styled “emirs,” could exert controlling and radicalizing influence. A later review by Jonathan Hall KC in April 2022 found evidence of recruitment through guidance, gifts, and implicit or actual violence.

The government has stated it does not tolerate “intimidation, gang activity or faith-based coercion” in prisons and has implemented measures to address extremism, including the creation of separation centers in 2017 for the most dangerous extremist offenders. However, some reports suggest these centers are underused or ineffective, with concerns that some high-security prisons are becoming increasingly controlled by Islamist gangs. The number of individuals in custody for terrorism-connected offenses reached 252 by June 30, 2024, with the majority (63%) holding Islamist-extremist views.

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