Behind Bars: New Film Sheds Light on Muslim Women in Prison
News Desk
Bradford: A ground-breaking research and film capturing the lived experiences of Muslim women in contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and their fears, anxieties and challenges of returning to their families and their communities is being launched at Leeds Beckett University on the 30th of May 2024.
Led by the Bradford-based Muslim Women in Prison Project (MWIP), the research and the short film is the collaborative work of Dr Sofia Buncy MBE the Director of the Muslim Women In Prison Project, Dr Alexandria Bradley of Leeds Beckett University and Dr Sarah Goodwin of Sheffield Hallam University.
The short film complements the research touching on important themes such as :
⦁ How disparities in the CJS system further compound inequalities for the Muslim women.
⦁ How lack of understanding from CJS practitioners around how gender dynamics and cultural norms can play out to make a Muslim women’s journey difficult and challenging during prison and post-prison life.
⦁ Why relocation to live in a new area for some, emerges as the only viable option as the dynamics of shame, embarrassment and guilt playout in families and the community.
⦁ The fear of being released into the community without being prepared or having adequate services for wrap-around support.
The research and film are both powerful delving into the experiences of Muslim women going through a system many do not understand.
MWIP Project Director Dr Sofia Buncy commented: “ It was important for us to encourage women with lived experiences of the CJS to speak directly about their journeys.
For many it took a tremendous amount of courage to face a camera. They spoke about their experiences with passion, delving into their emotions and frustration with unreserved candidness. We hope providers will listen and be proactive in developing more culturally appropriate and equitable models of support”.
Dr Sarah Goodwin commented: “It’s really rare to hear from Muslim women in the Criminal Justice System about their experiences. Conducting this research has allowed us to understand more of their stories and see how they are different from, and similar to, others on that journey. The more we understand, the better we can support their reintegration into the community and prevent future offending.”
Live experience participant Dania said, “There is no real culture of understanding Muslim women’s background and needs when they enter the criminal justice system. Part of the problem is not knowing how the system works and then nobody telling you how it works either. It is a very lonely journey”.
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