UK MPs demand probe into alleged forced prison conversions

New Ministry of Justice figures for England and Wales reveal that one in five Muslim prisoners is white, a rate nearly four times higher than the 5.8 per cent share of white people within the general Muslim population. Total Muslim inmates rose 14 per cent between 2022 and mid-2025, now comprising approximately 18 per cent of the prison population, compared to 6.5 per cent of the national population.

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy has called for an urgent investigation into allegations that Islamist gangs use violence and coercion to force white inmates to convert to Islam for protection. While the demographic data shows a significant disparity, officials note that the figures do not explicitly confirm whether these conversions occurred due to pressure or occurred while in custody.

Independent reviewer of terrorism legislation Jonathan Hall KC has previously described Islamist terrorists operating within prisons as ‘self-styled emirs’ who exert control through leadership and recruitment.