Societal Framework in Britain and France: Muslims in Prison

Abstract

This chapter developed from a project we designed to research populations of Muslim background in French and British prisons. Prior to undertaking the actual research, we set out to establish the two differing societal contexts which preside over the question of Muslims in prison and its pertinence. This chapter explores a wide range of contexts that bring issues about Islam and prisons to the fore in particular — and distinctive — ways. Beginning with England and Wales, the argument attributes special significance to the history of church-state relations and the role of the Church of England as a ‘broker’ for other faiths in the public realm. The second half of the chapter examines how the French Republic’s constitutional doctrines of laïcité influence the treatment of Muslim prisoners. It also emphasizes the consequences for the treatment of Muslims that can be traced back to France’s colonial ventures in Africa and the perception that is widespread in many sections of French society that Muslims are associated with political extremism, or even terrorism. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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