In France, Prisons Filled With Muslims

Samia El Alaoui Talibi walks her beat in a cream-colored head scarf and an ink-black robe with sunset-orange piping, an outfit she picked up at a yard sale.

After passing a bulletproof window, El Alaoui Talibi trudges through half a dozen heavy, locked doors to reach the Muslim faithful to whom she ministers in the women's cellblock of the Lille-Sequedin Detention Center in far northern France.

It took her years to earn this access, said El Alaoui Talibi, one of only four Muslim holy women allowed to work in French prisons. "Everyone has the same prejudices and negative image of Muslims and Islam," said Moroccan-born El Alaoui Talibi, 47, the mother of seven children. "When some guards see you, they see an Arab; they see you the same as if you were a prisoner."

This prison is majority Muslim -- as is virtually every house of incarceration in France. About 60 to 70 percent of all inmates in the country's prison system are Muslim, according to Muslim leaders, sociologists and researchers, though Muslims make up only about 12 percent of the country's population.

On a continent where immigrants and the children of immigrants are disproportionately represented in almost every prison system, the French figures are the most marked, according to researchers, criminologists and Muslim leaders.

"The high percentage of Muslims in prisons is a direct consequence of the failure of the integration of minorities in France," said Moussa Khedimellah, a sociologist who has spent several years conducting research on Muslims in the French penal system. In Britain, 11 percent of prisoners are Muslim in contrast to about 3 percent of all inhabitants, according to the Justice Ministry. Research by the Open Society Institute, an advocacy organization,

“About 60 to 70 percent of all inmates in the country’s prison system are Muslim, according to Muslim leaders, sociologists and researchers, though Muslims make up only about 12 percent of the country’s population.
The reason for this is very simple. Unlike other populations groups that immigrate, the Muslims are not interested in integrating in the society that they move into. Their goal is to change that society to fit their 7th century way of life. Thus a clash that results in high incarceration, civil strife and eventually war.”

Been to France a number of times and let me say that you go to Northern Paris at night and it’s not unlike being in the wrong place at the wrong time to a degree. Lots of young men walking around almost aimless with that ‘energy’ that spells trouble. I was sure I would be running into trouble being well dressed for the evening but no one approached me.

This religious designation is in many respects incorrect. Although many of the prisoners may be culturally Muslim, the problems festering in France’s minority neighborhoods are a product of poverty, drugs, second class status and what is called “Beurs” meaning the immigrant population from northern Africa and their children.

The motto of France, equality and fraternity is completely missing from a whole segment of the population. And it may be the worst in Europe. Only France’s steely intelligence services has prevented more trouble. But eventually the lid will blow again.

The integration issue actually goes both ways. The concept of being French by culture is no longer a given in today’s France.

Been to France 30 years ago & saw these guys doing nothing, just hanging around & trying (unsuccessfully) to pick up girls. I knew back then the Europeans were going to have a problem on their hands with these people.

I don't think society can blame everything on racism. Basically, the Muslims have produced a large underclass & no one knows what to do with them. The European governments have basically warehoused them in the suburbs & housing projects.

This prison is majority Muslim -- as is virtually every house of incarceration in France. About 60 to 70 percent of all inmates in the country's prison system are Muslim, according to Muslim leaders, sociologists and researchers, though Muslims make up only about 12 percent of the country's population.

ONLY? That's about 1 in 8. And who's fault is that? Those who forgot that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There you go - proof the metric system breeds ignorance and thus contributes to the decline of Western civilization.

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