Muslim Women’s Stories of Resilience in UK Justice System

Ishtiaq Ahmed
London: At the age of 21, Rukhsana found herself unexpectedly embroiled in a 10-week trial that would profoundly alter the course of her life.

She never envisioned facing imprisonment, believing instead that as a Muslim woman, her role was to uphold the family name.

Rukhsana’s story is just one among many of young Muslim women who have become entangled in the Criminal Justice System (CJS).

In a groundbreaking research initiative led by Dr Sofia Buncy MBE, DL, along with Dr Alexandria Bradley and Dr Sarah Goodwin from Leeds Beckett University, efforts are underway to shed light on the experiences of young Muslim women aged 17-25 within the CJS. The aim is to identify and address the underlying factors contributing to their overrepresentation in the system.

Funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust and Transition 2 Adulthood, this research builds upon the success of the two previous studies by the “Muslim Women in Prison” project which looked at  challenges facing Muslim women when making transition from prisons back into the community.

Rukhsana’s narrative underscores the urgent need for such investigations.

Rukhsana’s journey into the CJS began at the age of 20, culminating in a five-year sentence following the tragic death of her sister due to domestic violence. Amidst her grief, she found herself ensnared in a legal battle that she never fathomed.

Reflecting on her ordeal from a place of safety and stability, Rukhsana expressed disbelief at her circumstances. She never imagined setting foot in a police station, much less providing a witness statement.

Central to Rukhsana’s predicament was her unwavering commitment to her family’s honor. In her attempt to shield her loved ones, she found herself betrayed by those she trusted for protection.

Rukhsana’s sister had exploited religion, coercing her into pledging loyalty to the Quran. Yet, faced with imminent danger, Rukhsana made the agonizing decision to prioritize her own safety.

Incarcerated, Rukhsana faced further anguish as her siblings inundated her with letters, pressuring her to shoulder blame for a crime she did not commit.

Rukhsana’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by young Muslim women within the CJS. Through dedicated research and advocacy, there is hope for understanding and addressing these issues to ensure a more just and equitable system for all.

Sitting alone in prison, she pondered what her life might have been had she not chosen to take the blame. Would she still have a family by her side, visiting her, welcoming her upon release?
Prior to the incident, Rukhsana, a victim of domestic violence and coercive control, sought help from local authorities, confiding in her school headteacher and the police about her home situation, but she felt let down by every avenue she pursued.

“Prison isn’t a place for Muslim women,” she reflected. “You never imagine ending up there. Muslim women are expected to uphold the family honor. People don’t grasp the backstory of how you ended up here.”

Unfortunately, there was no support available for Rukhsana within the Criminal Justice System (CJS), and the burden being in prison for the crime she never committed became overwhelming.
“I resorted to self-harm in prison. All I’d ever experienced was pain, and that was the pain I could control. What made it worse was when I reached out to the prison officers for help with my past haunting me, they turned a deaf ear. I took matters into my own hands, and there wasn’t a spot on my body without a mark. Eventually, it became unbearable, and I contemplated ending my own life.”

Rukhsana had been led to believe that domestic abuse was justified by Islam and felt disconnected from her faith.

“During my time in prison, I lost faith. I questioned whether this was what Islam truly represented. I wanted to abandon it altogether.”

The Muslim Women in Prison project provided Rukhsana with a path back to Islam, where she learned that her experiences were neither normal nor sanctioned by religion. She served two and a half years in prison and completed the remainder of her sentence in the community.

“When they informed me of my release, I felt no joy. I had nothing to come back to. My family was still incarcerated. I had no resources or place to go. I worried about finding employment as an ex-convict.”

Due to threats on her life, Rukhsana couldn’t return to her previous location. She credited MWIP with saving her life, as without their support, she might have succumbed to despair.

Dr. Sofia Buncy, who directed the Muslim Women in Prison project, emphasized the increasing number of young Muslim women entering the British CJS and receiving custodial sentences.

She stressed the importance of understanding why this demographic faces disproportionate involvement with the CJS and how they navigate within the system.

Another participant, Maikah, entered the CJS at 20 after reporting her father for 11 years of sexual abuse. Her family disowned her, leaving her to fend for herself. She felt abandoned by both the CJS and the probation system upon release, ill-prepared to reintegrate into society.

“If you have addiction issues or are pregnant, they offer help, otherwise, you’re left to fend for yourself.”

Malikah and Rukhsana both express feeling abandoned by their communities, stating that there was insufficient support available to them. Malikah lamented the disparity in treatment between Muslim men and women when facing incarceration, noting that women often lose respect while men gain it.

She recounted having to relocate due to the stigma attached to her imprisonment. Both women emphasized the need for mosques and community leaders to improve engagement with youth and create non-judgmental spaces for dialogue.

Dr. Sofia suggested that the disproportionate number of young Muslim women in the justice system might be attributed to their increased agency and freedom, which they lack guidance on navigating. Malikah and Rukhsana also pointed to breakdowns in family communication and household stability as factors contributing to young Muslim women’s involvement in the justice system.

Malikah criticized the lack of culturally sensitive services available to struggling Muslims, noting that mainstream charities often overlook Islamic principles and understandings.

Dr Alexandria Bradley of Leeds Beckett University underscored the significance of research focusing on justice-involved young women, aiming to develop effective early intervention and prevention strategies.

The goal is to improve recognition of familial, cultural, and faith-related needs within both community and prison settings.

The report’s findings will be disseminated widely among criminal justice system stakeholders and policymakers to inspire meaningful change.

By shedding light on the previously overlooked challenges faced by young Muslim women, the research aims to prompt action and enhance support systems within both the community and correctional facilities.