aBigForehead

I don't know where to begin I've left it so long.

When the situation at Feltham crawled into a crevice in my conscience I didn't know how or where or who or what to do with it; it just made itself at home and I couldn't justify shooing away this new squatter. The story has been unfolding and what seemed like a chapter in my life is now more like one chapter in a many-chaptered book.  This might even quite possibly become a book, a real-life book with real-life people and an author. Me. Who would have thought? My first book and this as a subject matter. 

The story writes itself, I only give it voice.

The morning after I flew back from Marrakech I was at Holloway Prison and saw for myself some areas of the prison and some of the Muslim women at a get-together organised by Rukhsana- the Muslim Chaplain. I also saw for the first time the desire of other Muslim Chaplains to encourage the community to support the community of Muslims in, almost-out and out of prison. It is good to be part of the first befriending project for the Muslim women there.  Can you imagine being part of what stops a soul from wronging herself so that she may soar free, untethered by unlawful acts,  to truly be reposnsible with this powerful honour bestowed upon us, this honour called free will?

I've become part of a networking group honing in on the prisoners and their experiences and needs. We've had meetings and get-togethers. I have coached and spoken.  The Imams eagerness to attend these events both encourages me and worries me.  Listen:

At Wormwood Scrubs prison Muslims make 20% of the population and yet there are no Muslim volunteers. None.

The boys at Feltham are now 40 in number. There was a time when the number of Jamaican boys(at the time the majority ethnic group) were seen as high when they hit the upper teens. Now the Somali numbers are twice that. The numbers have been creeping up even in the time I have been immersing myself in this world. When you start hearing the stories, the numbers belie the magnitude of the problem. For each boy there is a family, a neighbourhood, a community damaged. For each victim of a crime another family, another neighbourhood another community damaged.

 Muslims receive less support with accommodation, probation and reintegration.

"They suffer from a serious ostracism from their Muslim community, and sometimes their own families, thus increasing their isolation. The pressure produced by the current post 9/11 climate has also led some mosques to reject former Muslim prisoners because of the fear that the mosque could be accused of extremism and then closed."

..so says Dr Gabriele Marranci. Read this very intersting article on his research here:

Are you still listening?

We are just not there for one another.

How to help: get yourself to an Open Day at Wormwood Scrubs where you will find out how to join the volunteer programme, how to join in Friday prayers, how to befriend, help to reduce the reoffending rates by being there for somebody who has made it out.  Room for one more friend in your life? Surely.

You will need to register with the Imam before the Open Day.  This is where you need to be on Saturday the 16th of June 2007 at 2pm inshallah:

HMP Wormwood Scrubs

Du Cane Road

London

W12 oAE

It ends at 5pm. The Imam's name is Ibrahim Mehtar, his email address is ibrahim.mehtar@hmps.gsi.gov.uk, his number is 0208 588 3250.

Call him. What are you waiting for? The book? The movie? Be part of the story today.

God bless.