British ministers are being urged to investigate reports that Muslim gangs are pressuring prisoners to convert to Islam, with new Ministry of Justice figures showing a sharp rise in white Muslim inmates. There were 3,218 white Muslim prisoners in England and Wales as of June 30, 2025, up from 2,767 in 2022. Muslim prisoners overall increased from 14,037 to 16,051 over the same period.
Muslims now account for about 18 percent of the prison population, compared with 6.5 percent of the general population. About one in five Muslim prisoners is white, compared with 5.8 percent of the wider population.
Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, called for an investigation into reports of forced conversions. “The percentage of Muslims who are white in our prisons is so vastly higher than in the general population it raises serious questions,” said Mr. Timothy. “We know that experts have warned repeatedly about forced conversions taking place behind bars, driven by Islamic gangs. We need to be honest that something is not right here – Labour must urgently investigate and stamp out forced conversions in prison.”
Several government reviews have previously raised concerns about coercion and Islamist recruitment inside prisons. Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, reported evidence of Islamist terrorists acting as “self-styled emirs” and exercising “leadership and recruitment” over other inmates. He cited the recruitment of “vulnerable or lonely prisoners” through support and material gifts, as well as “conversion backed by implicit or actual violence”.
Former government adviser Colin Bloom similarly reported that prisoners who refused to identify as Muslim could be denied protection or face violence and intimidation from Muslim gangs.
Ian Acheson, who reviewed Islamist extremism in prisons for the previous government, said some prisoners converted “as a pragmatic response to who controls power and space in our prisons”. The number of Muslim prison chaplains has also risen to 140, compared with 87 Church of England chaplains and 94 Catholic chaplains.
An MoJ spokesman said: “We do not tolerate intimidation, gang activity or faith-based coercion of any kind in our prisons. Prisons and staff act swiftly to clamp down on all threatening behaviour from any groups or individuals.”
Muslims now account for about 18 percent of the prison population, compared with 6.5 percent of the general population. About one in five Muslim prisoners is white, compared with 5.8 percent of the wider population.
Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, called for an investigation into reports of forced conversions. “The percentage of Muslims who are white in our prisons is so vastly higher than in the general population it raises serious questions,” said Mr. Timothy. “We know that experts have warned repeatedly about forced conversions taking place behind bars, driven by Islamic gangs. We need to be honest that something is not right here – Labour must urgently investigate and stamp out forced conversions in prison.”
Several government reviews have previously raised concerns about coercion and Islamist recruitment inside prisons. Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, reported evidence of Islamist terrorists acting as “self-styled emirs” and exercising “leadership and recruitment” over other inmates. He cited the recruitment of “vulnerable or lonely prisoners” through support and material gifts, as well as “conversion backed by implicit or actual violence”.
Former government adviser Colin Bloom similarly reported that prisoners who refused to identify as Muslim could be denied protection or face violence and intimidation from Muslim gangs.
Ian Acheson, who reviewed Islamist extremism in prisons for the previous government, said some prisoners converted “as a pragmatic response to who controls power and space in our prisons”. The number of Muslim prison chaplains has also risen to 140, compared with 87 Church of England chaplains and 94 Catholic chaplains.
An MoJ spokesman said: “We do not tolerate intimidation, gang activity or faith-based coercion of any kind in our prisons. Prisons and staff act swiftly to clamp down on all threatening behaviour from any groups or individuals.”
