U.S. Prisons

Life in prison is not easy. Prisoners are forced to face their crimes, adapt to a new and unpleasant lifestyle and rehabilitate themselves for future release.

Many prisoners become members of various communities to combat loneliness, and to ensure protection from the daily threats associated with life in jail.

An unusually high number of convicts are being converted to Islam. In particular, African Americans in the prison system are converting at an alarming pace. According to estimates, up to 20 percent of prisoners in the U.S. are Muslims. This figure is approximately 20 times higher than the national Muslim population average

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    Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch discusses jihad recruitment in prisons with Eric Shawn on Fox News, May 24, 2009, in the wake of the arrests of four Muslims in New York who were plotting to blow up two synagogues. At least two of them were converted to Islam and recruited in prison.

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    Across the United States, tens of thousands of Muslims are practicing their faith behind bars. Islam is most likely to win American converts there, according to U.S. Muslim leaders, and the religion has for decades been a regular part of prison culture.