One in five Muslim prisoners in England and Wales is white — four times the rate recorded in the wider population — prompting urgent calls for the Ministry of Justice to investigate forced religious conversions behind bars.

The figures were highlighted by Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, who warned that the statistical gap points to a severe and growing problem driven by organised prison gangs. He has called on the government to open a formal inquiry into the phenomenon.

"The percentage of Muslims who are white in our prisons is so vastly higher than in the general population it raises serious questions," Mr Timothy said. "We know that experts have warned repeatedly about forced conversions taking place behind bars, driven by Islamic gangs. We need to be honest that something is not right here - Labour must urgently investigate and stamp out forced conversions in prison."

Across the general population, white people make up 5.8 per cent of Muslims, making the 20 per cent figure in the prison estate a notable disparity. The broader context shows significant growth across the board: the overall number of Muslim inmates in England and Wales grew by 14 per cent between 2022 and 30 June 2025, rising from 14,037 to 16,051.

Concerns about coercive tactics have also been raised by the government's anti-terror chief, Jonathan Hall KC. In his official findings, Mr Hall reported evidence of Islamist prisoners acting as "self-styled emirs" who dominate wings through structured leadership and active recruitment.

Mr Hall noted that recruiters deliberately target "vulnerable or lonely prisoners, using guidance, sharing of food or material gifts", alongside "conversion backed by implicit or actual violence". He cited London Bridge attacker Usman Khan and terrorist Sudesh Amman — both later shot dead by police — as individuals who actively threatened other prisoners into converting during their sentences.

The dynamic has also been described as a survival mechanism in violent wings. Ian Acheson, who previously led an independent review into Islamist extremism for then-Justice Secretary Michael Gove, explained that conversion is often a "pragmatic response" to basic concerns over space and personal safety.

"This seems to be the case in high security prisons, in particular, where safety is at a premium and there are also large numbers of violent young men entering custody searching for meaning and belonging," Mr Acheson said. "So Islam in this case has gang characteristics."

A separate 2023 review led by government adviser Colin Bloom outlined similar findings. His report revealed that inmates who refused to identify as Muslim were "denied 'protection' from the dominant Muslim gang" or faced violence, with gangs frequently deploying the phrase "convert or get hurt" and leaving copies of the Quran on new prisoners' beds.

For its part, the Ministry of Justice maintains that prison governors have the tools to intervene against intimidation. An MoJ spokesman said: "We do not tolerate intimidation, gang activity or faith-based coercion of any kind in our prisons. Prisons and staff act swiftly to clamp down on all threatening behaviour from any groups or individuals."

What we do not know yet is whether ministers will order a fresh, standalone inquiry into gang coercion, or rely on existing prison reporting mechanisms. With the prison population continuing to expand, managing wing dynamics remains a persistent operational challenge. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.