Muslim Women Told to Remove Veils during Prison Visit

Cageprisoners Action Alert | 27.06.2010 22:00 | Anti-racism | Terror War

Cageprisoners has received disturbing reports from the families of prisoners in the Detainee Unit at HMP Long Lartin that Muslim women visiting relatives - who have been held without charge or trial for years on end - were told to remove their hijaabs (head coverings) and niqaabs (veils) in order to be photographed for security purposes on Saturday, 19th June. This information has been confirmed by the prisoners' legal representatives who have written to the prison authorities asking for an explanation regarding the events of last week.

A statement issued on behalf of one of the families by the Islamic Observation Centre reads:

“The wardens and inspectors of Long Lartin Prison deliberately force Muslim women to uncover their hair in front of the prison cameras to allow them to enter for visits. After we refused, they provoked us and said that women are allowed to uncover their hair, and that we were obliged to acquiesce to their order because some Muslim ulema [religious jurists] have issued fatwas allowing this.”

The families of the prisoners have been visiting their loved ones for several years and have never been required to make this particular concession which is a clear infringement on their basic religious and personal freedoms.

Noting that whilst the current incident is regarding family visits the statement goes on to mention the wider frustrations of men held without due legal process for years:

"These have been their practices from the beginning, and we have suffered from them for a long time; however, these practices are getting fiercer everyday against our faith. They are restricting us, and take revenge on us by all means through false behaviour and pretexts, such as cancelling and delaying the visits, and by deliberately making the dogs touch us."

The men in the Detainee Unit have been prohibited from interacting with any other prisoners for almost a year now. Until the policy changes, the wives, sisters and daughters of these men will not be able to visit them. Few people, other than their immediate families – and some have no one in the UK – come to visit them. If these measures continue unchecked it will only lead to their further isolation.

We encourage activists to contact the prison authorities at HMP Long Lartin asking that these measures are looked at thoroughly and that the rights of prisoners and their families are respected:

HMP Long Lartin (Detainee Unit)
Governor: Simon Cartwright
South Littleton
Evesham
Worcestershire
WR11 8TZ

Tel: 01386 295 100
Fax: 01386 295 101

You can also register your complaints with the Ministry of State for Justice:

Kenneth Clarke MP QC
Minister of State for Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
United Kingdom

Cageprisoners Action Alert
Homepage: http://cageprisoners.com/campaigns.php?id=995

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28.06.2010 00:32

For women not to be put in a sack i.e. the niqab (burka). Of course for security they need to know who is going into prisons.

anon

PACE

28.06.2010 06:59

As someone who has been in a few police cells in my time with nought to do but read PACE I did read that muslim women who cover their hair and/or faces if detained can only be searched by a female police officer in a closed environment for example in the back of a police van or a room at the station, it is a bit like the protocol for conducting a strip search. If female muslim suspects are to have their rights respected thus then surely those who are not suspects should be afforded the same rights and show their faces to female prison officers alone which would surely satisfy both security and religious commitments.
No I do not understand why anyone would want to wear a burqa, but I don't understand high heels, short tight skirts and plunging necklines either. Each to their own and this is very important obviously to these ladies who should have their rights respected.
As for prison dogs, in my experience of prison visiting they sniff everyone and I have been in a line with all sorts of different people all of whom are sniffed and therefore touched. The handlers without exception always ask everyone if they are nervous of dogs.Of course dogs should not have to do this sort of thing but they do seem to be fairly well treated. Roll on the day when no animal is beholden to do our bidding but honestly in this case I would be suprised and indeed outraged if any screw did use the dog to intimidate a visitor.

Lynn sawyer

visiting

28.06.2010 11:22

so its ok for dog haters wearing what counts as a disguise to be exempted on 'cultural grounds?' note that a lot of places use retinal scans as part of their security protocols - bit difficult if you're veiled. Or are you asking for expmption on the grounds of cultural superitority. Screws often tend to wind visitors and inmates up of all backgrounds as it is a job that attracts an awful lot of sadists ( as does cleric ) . dogs are used for sniffing out drugs - or are you exempted there too?

mother godess against fascist bondage

balaclavas

28.06.2010 19:13

rumour has it that christian men have been forced to remove balaclavas on prison visits the pathetic reason for this is that its a security problem if youre face cant be seen(laughable i know) everyones a racist facist nartzi

anyone