Yes, I was referring to the Nation of Islam. Someone told me the other day that they read an article about the increasing #s of Black men serving time being converted into it. Apparently, the "problem" is that it seeds anti-American ideas in the war against Islam.
I don't know.
One of the problems that has always been evident with the Muslim religion in New York prisons, is the fact the inmates have always been allowed to have privacy when holding their meetings and their services. As I said before, we were very lucky in having the civilian Imam that we did because he kept them all in line. There have been some troublemaker Imams on the payroll of the state however. Shortly after 9/11, I understand that one such troublemaker was tossed out of his job because of anti-American comments made. He was at one of the prisons on the western part of the state. From what I understand, there was staff in the audience and they wrote down his comments. I never really learned why staff was in the room at the time, since it has always been standard practice to let the Muslims alone when they gather.
The same thing goes for the NOI behind the walls. We were not privy to their meetings, and as far as their attending services, I'm not sure how many of them actually do since the organization is more of a racially biased gang than a religious group. Up until about two-three years ago, the NOI was not allowed inside the prison. I believe they won the right through a lawsuit. I'm sure their desire to enter the prisons to look for members goes along with the fact that most of the founders of the group are ex-cons. It doesn't surprise me that the number of convicts being converted into the NOI is increasing. There's alot of angry, young black men out there who are looking for a group that provides them with the same type of gang experience they were a part of on the street. Others join for protection.