freetheprisoner
22-12-07, 09:16 PM
Salam alaykum,
I am writing this letter as an appeal to muslims to request support on behalf of muslim prisoners being held in high security prisons around the country, particularly those being held in relation to those convicted under politically-motivated laws and anti-terror legislation.
Subsequent to the attacks on the USA in 2001, a climate of fear has been placed over the muslim community in the UK, and this has had a negative effect upon muslims in this country, through a combination of negative press reports, draconian infringement upon freedom of speech, and legislation being passed in direct contravention of basic human rights laws.
Sadly, some members of the muslim community have been prosecuted under these laws, in some cases wrongly. It appears now there is a hidden crime, though not specified directly in legislation yet widely viewed as a crime by the authorities, of being a practising muslim.
Also distressing is that once brothers and sisters are detained or convicted, their treatment worsens, mainly because the muslim community is not supporting them because of the continuing cycle of fear, intimidation and press bias. I say it is time to break that cycle, speak out and offer our support as we are required to do under our obligations as a muslim.
To give some examples recently :-
a. One disabled prisoner who has diabetes. He was neglected so much that further parts of his limb was amputated.
b. A sister miscarried after being refused an inhaler (she is asthmatic)
c. Two prisoners are placed on a wing in a prison known for its racism and they are the only muslim ones out of 93. To give credence to this bias, on average of the inmate population 11% are muslim. one has had their cell burnt down with all their possessions inside, another suffered 10% burns after a vat of hot water and hot oil was poured on him whilst the staff were mysteriously absent.
d. Prisoners have been on hunger strike after being refused permission to pray eid prayers, despite the prison service allegedly giving them the right to do so.
There are numerous other examples, these are only a few.
The governments attitude to rehabilitation of muslim offenders is genuinely shocking, and is only giving fuel to the radicals in our midst, and as such unless we as muslims take action through legitimate protest and support this can only polarise the muslim community still further. It is somewhat ironic that the british government is passing the majority of their legislation on the basis that they are to "protect freedom", whilst curtailing the freedom of citizens to practise their religion freely.
We do not have to agree with the crimes that the prisoners have been convicted, believe they are innocent, or believe in their causes. This is an issue of human rights and brotherhood, not one of allegiance and partisanship to their specific alleged or real motivations or actions.
Islamic Obligations towards prisoners
I would remind all the brothers and sisters of our obligations through the following evidences :-
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, "No man helps a Muslim at a time when his honour is being belittled or his rights violated except that Allah will help him at a place in which he loves to have His help." [Abu Dawud]
Imam Qurtubi (rh), said, "How dare us that we are in Fitnah (e.g. fighting amongst ourselves), when the non-Muslims take Muslims as prisoners!" [Tafsir Qurtubi]
Ibn Hazm (rh) said, "It is the consensus (Ijma) of the Companions, that if the only way to release Muslims from captivity is to gather all the money from the Ummah, it becomes Wajib (compulsory) to do this." [Muhallah Bab-ul-Aseer]
Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) said, "To release the Muslim prisoners is one of the greatest obligations, and to spend money in this way is the best form of Ibadaat (worship - to come close to Allah (swt)." [Majmoo Al-Fatawa, Kitab-ul-Aseer, Volume 28, Page 635]
Imam Abu Hanifah (rh) has been quoted as saying, "To release Muslims from captivity whether in the East or the West (of the world) is obligatory." [Imam Sarkhasi, Al-Mabsoot and Tafsir Imam Badawi]
What we can do to help :-
I will be starting an action alert email list in co-operation with Sister Muddassar Arani of Arani Solicitors in which there is a pressing need for action to be taken in the form of complaints or protest with regards the safety, security and wellbeing of muslim prisoners. Please get in contact so that you can be part of this.
Write to the prisoners. Show your support for their plight. Lists can be obtained from myself or from the numerous prisoner rights organisations who maintain lists of detainees and prisoners, including Cageprisoners.com, CaptiveSupport.org and others.
Make family, friends and colleagues aware of the issues affecting muslim prisoners, by presenting this letter to them or composing your own.
Be aware of legislation and your obligations as a muslim, and form your own protest groups and actions in order to support the muslim prisoners.
Jazakhallah khair for reading this letter.
To assist and participate in this project, please email myself in the first instance at helptheprisoners@yahoo.co.uk, or contact Arani Solicitors on info@aranisolicitors.com with the subject "I want to help the muslim prisoners."
Walaykum Salam and hope to hear from you soon
Umar
helptheprisoners@yahoo.co.uk
I am writing this letter as an appeal to muslims to request support on behalf of muslim prisoners being held in high security prisons around the country, particularly those being held in relation to those convicted under politically-motivated laws and anti-terror legislation.
Subsequent to the attacks on the USA in 2001, a climate of fear has been placed over the muslim community in the UK, and this has had a negative effect upon muslims in this country, through a combination of negative press reports, draconian infringement upon freedom of speech, and legislation being passed in direct contravention of basic human rights laws.
Sadly, some members of the muslim community have been prosecuted under these laws, in some cases wrongly. It appears now there is a hidden crime, though not specified directly in legislation yet widely viewed as a crime by the authorities, of being a practising muslim.
Also distressing is that once brothers and sisters are detained or convicted, their treatment worsens, mainly because the muslim community is not supporting them because of the continuing cycle of fear, intimidation and press bias. I say it is time to break that cycle, speak out and offer our support as we are required to do under our obligations as a muslim.
To give some examples recently :-
a. One disabled prisoner who has diabetes. He was neglected so much that further parts of his limb was amputated.
b. A sister miscarried after being refused an inhaler (she is asthmatic)
c. Two prisoners are placed on a wing in a prison known for its racism and they are the only muslim ones out of 93. To give credence to this bias, on average of the inmate population 11% are muslim. one has had their cell burnt down with all their possessions inside, another suffered 10% burns after a vat of hot water and hot oil was poured on him whilst the staff were mysteriously absent.
d. Prisoners have been on hunger strike after being refused permission to pray eid prayers, despite the prison service allegedly giving them the right to do so.
There are numerous other examples, these are only a few.
The governments attitude to rehabilitation of muslim offenders is genuinely shocking, and is only giving fuel to the radicals in our midst, and as such unless we as muslims take action through legitimate protest and support this can only polarise the muslim community still further. It is somewhat ironic that the british government is passing the majority of their legislation on the basis that they are to "protect freedom", whilst curtailing the freedom of citizens to practise their religion freely.
We do not have to agree with the crimes that the prisoners have been convicted, believe they are innocent, or believe in their causes. This is an issue of human rights and brotherhood, not one of allegiance and partisanship to their specific alleged or real motivations or actions.
Islamic Obligations towards prisoners
I would remind all the brothers and sisters of our obligations through the following evidences :-
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, "No man helps a Muslim at a time when his honour is being belittled or his rights violated except that Allah will help him at a place in which he loves to have His help." [Abu Dawud]
Imam Qurtubi (rh), said, "How dare us that we are in Fitnah (e.g. fighting amongst ourselves), when the non-Muslims take Muslims as prisoners!" [Tafsir Qurtubi]
Ibn Hazm (rh) said, "It is the consensus (Ijma) of the Companions, that if the only way to release Muslims from captivity is to gather all the money from the Ummah, it becomes Wajib (compulsory) to do this." [Muhallah Bab-ul-Aseer]
Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) said, "To release the Muslim prisoners is one of the greatest obligations, and to spend money in this way is the best form of Ibadaat (worship - to come close to Allah (swt)." [Majmoo Al-Fatawa, Kitab-ul-Aseer, Volume 28, Page 635]
Imam Abu Hanifah (rh) has been quoted as saying, "To release Muslims from captivity whether in the East or the West (of the world) is obligatory." [Imam Sarkhasi, Al-Mabsoot and Tafsir Imam Badawi]
What we can do to help :-
I will be starting an action alert email list in co-operation with Sister Muddassar Arani of Arani Solicitors in which there is a pressing need for action to be taken in the form of complaints or protest with regards the safety, security and wellbeing of muslim prisoners. Please get in contact so that you can be part of this.
Write to the prisoners. Show your support for their plight. Lists can be obtained from myself or from the numerous prisoner rights organisations who maintain lists of detainees and prisoners, including Cageprisoners.com, CaptiveSupport.org and others.
Make family, friends and colleagues aware of the issues affecting muslim prisoners, by presenting this letter to them or composing your own.
Be aware of legislation and your obligations as a muslim, and form your own protest groups and actions in order to support the muslim prisoners.
Jazakhallah khair for reading this letter.
To assist and participate in this project, please email myself in the first instance at helptheprisoners@yahoo.co.uk, or contact Arani Solicitors on info@aranisolicitors.com with the subject "I want to help the muslim prisoners."
Walaykum Salam and hope to hear from you soon
Umar
helptheprisoners@yahoo.co.uk