Multi-Faith Multi-Faith ChaplaincyChaplaincy

Ahtsham AliAhtsham AliMuslim AdviserMuslim Adviser

Keeping the FaithKeeping the Faith

History of Prison Chaplaincy

1773 and all that; 1952 Prison Act; Prison Rules 1999

The move to Multifaith Teams and practice 357 employed chaplains – full or part time: 134 Anglican, 105 Muslim, 77 Roman Catholic, 50 Free Church, 2 Sikh, 2 Hindu

Approximately 700 sessional staff representing numerically smaller faith communities including Buddhist, Pagan, Jewish

Also 7000 chaplaincy volunteers

Visual Multifaith Presence Multifaith Team Priest & Imam together ‘Us & Them’“All the people like us are We,

And everyone else is They.”(Rudyard Kipling, We and They, 1926)

1952 Prison Act10 Appointment of prison ministers

(1)Where in any prison the number of prisoners who belong to a religious denomination other than the Church of England is such as in the opinion of the Secretary of State to require the appointment of a minister of that denomination, the Secretary of State may appoint such a minister to that prison.

(5)The governor of a prison shall on the reception of each prisoner record the religious denomination to which the prisoner declares himself to belong, and shall give to any minister who under this section is appointed to the prison or permitted to visit prisoners therein a list of the prisoners who have declared themselves to belong to his denomination...

Why do we enable faith in prisons?

Human Rights

Diversity

Positive influences in offenders lives

Reduce anxiety (safer custody) increase hope

Change motivation

Helps towards victim awareness and rehabilitation

Allows repentance and the assurance of forgiveness- that offenders can still make a positive change

Outside faith contacts may assist in rehabilitation and resettlement and enable support in the community

Safe place for social interaction inside

All these may help reduce re-offending

equality does not mean sameness “Men are born equal but they are also born different.” (Erich Fromm)

“Equality is not in regarding different things similarly, equality is in regarding different things differently.” (Tom Robbins)

Resettlement of Muslim Prisoners

KEEPING THE FAITH

A Case Study

What we did Generally: Not religiously religious but culturally so Friday prayers Classes / Literature Family visits / links Eid / Ramadan / etc

What we did1. Generally: Not religiously religious but

culturally so2. Friday prayers / which mosque?3. Family visits / know how it works4. Eid / Ramadan / etc5. Classes / Literature – but take care

The graveyard issue

The advantages Familiarity Same lingo, same culture etc. Know how etiquettes work. Denominations / Castes / clans / family relationships