This was a 2-year project funded by the ESRC, which ran from 1991 to 1993. The research was led by Professor Danièle Joly, of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, and Professor Jim Beckford, of the Department of Sociology, both at the University of Warwick. Research in England and Wales included observation and interviews with 68 Muslim prisoners, including 20 women, whilst 67 took place with governors, race relations officers, other prison officers, chaplains and kitchen supervisors. Six full-time Muslim chaplains were also interviewed. In France, we collaborated with Farhad Khosrokhavor from the CADIS: research was more difficult and restricted, though 158 interviews were conducted with Muslim prisoners, including 14 women, and 28 with prison officers and administrators.

The project led to a book published by MacMillan Palgrave in 2005: Challenge and Change: Muslims in French and British prisons and a book in French published by the Presses de l'Université de Louvain: Les musulmans en prison.

Project contacts: Professor Daniele Joly, Professor Jim Beckford.