The roots of Radical Islam in Prison
Reader comment on article: New Focus On Muslim Prison Outreach

Submitted by Patrick Dunleavy, Jul 4, 2009 10:57

Much has been written recently regarding the effects of radical Islam in the prison setting. General focus is on the Imams certification process and literature sources and distribution post 9-11. To fully understand the impact of this phenomenon requires a historical look back at Islam in Prison. The seeds of Jihad were planted in the prison soil long before September 11th.

During the crack epidemic of the late 80's and early 90's prison populations grew significantly. However the increase in foreign born inmates in New York alone increased by 218 %. Many of them from countries of interest with connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. Two examples were El Sayyid Nosair and Rashid Baz.

Nosair convicted in the shooting of Meir Khane was an inmate in Attica State Prison who held significant sway with both the Imam Chaplain and the prison muslim congregation when he plotted with the Blind Shiek Abdel Rahman to blow up several New York City sites in 1993.

Rashid Baz a Lebanonese immigrant opened fire on a van load of Hasidic students in New York City killing Ari Halberstam. He was saluted by Hamas as a warrior Hero as he was sentenced to 144 years in Prison.

He became the Prison Imam Chaplain's clerk in Auburn State Prison. The Prison Chaplain was subsequently arrested and convicted for providing material support to a terrorist organization.

These are just two examples of the deep historical roots of Radical Islam in the Prison environment. There are more !

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