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Contents
- Minister puts his support behind
National Volunteers' Week - 20 Sep 2004
Prisons Minister Paul Goggins demonstrated
his support for National Volunteers’ Week by spending
half a day as an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB)
member at HMP Brixton.
- Ramadan
Inside - 10 Oct 2003
Ramadan starts 27 October and lasts for one month.
It is important that everyone involved in prisons
knows what should be provided...
- HMP/YOI
Parc - Annual Report - 9
July 2003
With the opening of the 28-bed Juvenile Remand
Unit in March 2002, HMP & YOI Parc holds a unique
mix of prisoners. The report commends Securicor
Custodial Services for the admirable way...
- Russian
Prison Officials visit UK - 9 July 2003
Senior Russian Civil Servants, Directors of the
Russian Prison Service and representatives of Human
Rights organisations spent a week in June at Rodbaston
College in Staffordshire learning about the work
of IMBs...
- The
Launch of the IMBs - 8
April 2003
On 8 April 2003, Boards of Visitors in prison
establishments and Visiting Committees in immigration
removal centres became known as Independent Monitoring
Boards...
Full Stories
Minister
puts his support behind National Volunteers' Week
20 September
2004
Prisons Minister Paul Goggins demonstrated
his support for National Volunteers’ Week by spending
half a day as an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB)
member at HMP Brixton.
The Minister toured the prison with the Chair and Vice
Chair of the IMB, George Mangar and Philip Hanks, learning
how the Board monitors life at HMP Brixton and how they
pass on any concerns they might have.
Speaking about the visit, Mr Goggins said: ‘It
was a pleasure to lend my support to National Volunteers’
Week by having the chance to see the excellent work
done by the IMB at HMP Brixton. The hard work of these
members sums up the volunteering ethos in action and,
in combination with the efforts of frontline staff,
helps us to deliver the improvements we’re all
so keen to achieve in the Prison Service.’
To find out more about National Volunteers week you
can visit their website www.volunteersweek.org.uk,
or for more information about the Minister’s visit
to the IMB at HMP Brixton please contact the IMB
Secretariat.
Ramadan Inside
10 Oct 2003
Ramadan starts 27 October and lasts for one month.
It is important that everyone involved in prisons knows
what should be provided, and to some extent why, for
the many Muslims in our jails. Shiban Akbar chairs the
Social Affairs Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain
and is on the National Council for the Welfare of Muslim
Prisoners
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic (Lunar) Calendar.
It is a blessed month for Muslims for various reasons.
The first revelation of The Qur'an (the Scripture for
Muslims) was sent down in the month of Ramadan in AD
610. It is believed that Laylatul Qadr or The Night
of Power and Glory, the event in Islamic history which
marks the first Qur'anic revelation falls on either
of the odd number nights of the last ten days of Ramadan
starting from 21st Ramadan. This night is also called
Laylah Mubarakah' or the Blessed Night.
Ramadan is the month of spiritual nourishment and enrichment,
provided the opportunity is not missed to make good
use of the blessings of the month. During this month
the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell-Fire
are closed; so there is less distraction from the material
world and its destructive elements – indeed a
Divine gift of mercy for humanity. Hence all Muslims
are urged to consciously and actively seek repentance
of Allah, the Lord and Sustainer of the Universe for
all their sins and wrong-doing of which they are aware
and others that they may not be aware of. It is the
season to take stock of one's lived life and endeavour
to be a better person.
Every effort therefore should be made to ensure that
the prisoners are not deprived to take benefit of the
blessings of this month. Appropriate resources and opportunity
such as a congenial social environment should be provided
to the Muslim prisoners so that they are encouraged
to make good use of their time in plenty of congregational
and individual prayers and receive Islamic moral guidance
from Imams and invited scholars on the wisdom and practice
of the month of Ramadan. They should be encouraged to
focus on the neccessity of repentance; reflection, introspection
that would help them to strive to becoming a better
person. If possible, the ritual is best aided by study
circles, Islamic educational videos or documentaries
and group discussions facilitated by a learned Imam
or a scholar.
Sawm or Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the
five pillars of Islam. It is both a physical act and
a mental act of worship. It is an obligation for adult
Muslims to observe the Fast. Together with physical
abstinence for most part of the day, Muslims are urged
to exercise self-control and strict self-discipline
for spiritual benefit. Five things break the fast of
a Muslim – lying, backbiting, slander, ungodly
oaths and looking with passion. So added care needs
to be taken towards proper conduct if fasting is to
be observed in the true spirit. Other conditions would
nullify the fast, such as injection used as a substitute
for food or anything entering the body. If however,
someone eats or drinks by mistake during the fasting
they should continue to fast as such forgetful acts
do not break it. If in doubt, the Prison Imams should
be consulted to clarify such matters.
All Muslims who have reached the age of puberty are
required to fast unless they are ill; frail due to very
old age or health reasons; undergoing treatment; on
medication; are travelling long distances; lso pregnant
and menstruating women and those who have just given
birth or are breastfeeding. Able bodied adults are required
to make up for the missed fasting at another time of
the year which suits them, and preferably before the
next Ramadan. There are other ways in which one can
make up for not being able to fast. In Islamic Law it
is a serious sin to break fast intentionally and without
any valid reason. One is required to fast for two months
for every single broken fast done intentionally. So
Muslim prisoners who are in good health should get the
necessary support to observe the Fast.
Ramadan is the season of giving up; developing self-restraint,
exercising patience and demonstrating will-power. The
proper practice of Ramadan is meant to provide a complete
training and rehabilitation package on purging the mind
and the body of the impurities and the inconsequential
and debilitating material baggage gathered in the past
year. In Islam purification is half of Faith. Fasting
commences from dawn to sunset and during this time one
must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual
activity. The drinking here does not refer to alcohol
as it is forbidden in Islam at all times anyway, and
the sexual activity is only permitted within a marital
relationship. All these activities are permitted after
sunset.
Before the fast begins each dawn a pre-dawn meal known
as Suhur is taken. One can eat until just before dawn
and make the intention to fast. Some people choose to
have breakfast menu such as cereal and toast and tea;
some have fruits and a drink; some have a light cooked
meal and some even have just a glass of milk or water.
Whatever the prisoners choose to have or whatever is
on offer please make sure that the food that needs to
be served warm is not left cold from the previous evening.
Following Suhur, prisoners should have the facility
to do ablution or wudu to prepare for the first prayer
of the day known as Fajr or Salat-ul-Fajr. Some people
prefer to read from The Qu'ran after Fajr and before
they get ready for work
Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Taharah or overall
personal cleanliness is a branch of Faith in Islam.
Prisoners should be allowed and if required, taught
and encouraged to keep their person including their
private parts and their clothes and bed linen clean.
Apart from wudu or ablution in preparation for ritual
prayers or to touch The Qur'an, prisoners should have
the facility to shower every day
Iftaar' is the evening meal with which fasting Muslims
break their fast at sunset. It is recommended to hasten
to break fast at sunset and not to delay breaking it.
So the evening meal should be provided on time and preferably
served atleast five to seven minutes before the start
of Iftaar. The normal practice is to do a small 'dua'
or supplication at the Iftaar table with the food laid
out, praying to the Merciful Lord for His blessings
and forgiveness and to accept our fast for Him.
Iftaar is an important meal for those who have been
fasting all day. Commonly, attempt is made to grace
the Iftaar table with a variety of food and drinks from
dates, water, milk, juice, snacks, salad to a hot supper,
and fruits and dessert, followed by tea or coffee. The
menu obviously varies from one culture to another. Soon
after the meal people pray the fourth of the five times
prayer of the day known as Maghrib. Some people choose
to break their fast with a quick bite to eat with dates
and water etc; then immediately pray Maghrib which does
not take more than 10 to 15 minutes; and then sit down
to eating their meal in a relaxed manner.
Night-time is spent in additional prayers known as
Tarawih, a highly recommended prayer. Worshippers congregate
at the Mosques every evening during Ramadan to pray
Tarawih where sections of The Qur'an are recited with
the aim of getting through the recitation of the entire
Qur'an in the month in which it was revealed. If one
is unable to pray Tarawih in a congregation s/he should
pray it at home in a group or on their own. A minimum
of 8 and a maximum of 20 rakahs or units of prayer are
read. So its unlike the five times prayer that takes
much lesser time. Tarawih prayers take time. It is held
after the Esha/ Isha prayers which is the last of the
five set of prayers that is obligatory on Muslims as
part of their five times a day worship-ritual. So for
a Muslim, evening duties during Ramadan are extended
far beyond their regular routine and takes a considerable
amount of time to get through. The Prison authority
need to be sensitive to the rigorous discipline of the
month of Ramadan and exempt Muslim prisoners from undertaking
any extra burden of work that would be physically tiring
or add to their hardship.
Ramadan is not only a month of austerity but also a
month of festivity; a neat balance between self-denial
during its day-light hours and bounty bestowed on the
fasting Muslim as darkness falls. If you visit a Muslim
country in the month of Ramadan you will find it difficult
to believe that most people go without food and drink
for most part of the day. A typical scene at any time
of day would be crowded streets and shops with festive
decorations. The Festival of Eid which follows the month
of Ramadan marks the end of the month-long fasting.
Imagine the run up to Christmas. Ramadan celebrations
and Eid shopping are just as busy and frantic. Restaurants
and roadside cafes are busy preparing special food for
the fasterss and have their relatives, friends, neighbours
and work colleagues over for the evening feast on different
days.
Prisoners both British and of other nationalities who
are cut off from their natural habitat are very likely
to feel demoralised when thinking of the life they have
had to leave behind. To raise their morale and in keeping
with the spirit of charity, generosity and hospitality
that characterises the month of Ramadan it would be
nice if some effort is made to treat the Prisoners with
an improved diet and for the last ten days of the month
with some delectable delicacies, if possible.
Please check with the office of the Muslim Advisor
or with the Prison Imams for correct timings for Suhur,
Iftaar and prayers or help in any matter. A timetable
for Ramadan may also be obtained from any Mosque. You
may phone MCB on 020 8432 0585 or Email: sac@mcb.org.uk
if you have further queries
Wishing everyone Ramadan Kareem: Blessings and Bounty
of Ramadan.
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HMP/YOI Parc
- First Annual Report
09 July 2003
With the opening of the 28-bed Juvenile Remand Unit
in March 2002, HMP & YOI Parc holds a unique mix
of prisoners. The report commends Securicor Custodial
Services for the admirable way in which it managed increases
in the establishment's operational capacity and recognises
that, despite numerous difficulties, 2002 proved to
be a fairly stable period. The quality and dedication
of the staff remains high. The Board agrees with Her
Majesty's Inspectors of Prisons that Parc "had
overcome some of its initial problems and was broadly,
a safe and respectful prison."
For more information, please see the press release:
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Russian Prison
Officials visit UK
09
July 2003
Senior Russian Civil Servants, Directors of the Russian
Prison Service and representatives of Human Rights organisations
spent a week in June at Rodbaston College in Staffordshire
learning about the work of IMBs. The delegation was
in the UK as part of a project sponsored by the FCO's
Human Rights Project Fund, following on from a very
successful partnership project last year sponsored by
the British Council.
The Russians are in the process of setting up similar
arrangements for inspections by non-governmental groups,
and a new law is expected to be passed in September
to set up a national framework for public inspectors
across the country.
During the week the delegation visited Boards at Birmingham,
Blakenhurst, Brinsford, Brockhill, Featherstone and
Stafford. In welcoming the delegation to the UK Bryan
Baker, the Chair of the National Advisory Council, said:
'We are delighted to have been given the opportunity
to show our friends from Russia how our members monitor
prisons in this country and to help them to devise a
system for their prisons which, until recently, have
allowed no public access.'
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The Launch
of the Independent Monitoring Boards
08
Apr 2003
On 8 April 2003, Boards of Visitors in
prison establishments and Visiting Committees in immigration
removal centres became known as Independent Monitoring
Boards. The official launch took place at 1 Birdcage
Walk, London and was attended by Home Office Ministers
Hilary Benn and Beverley Hughes.
The launch also saw the announcement of
the creation of a new National Council to lead, support
and guide Boards towards greater effectiveness, and
introduced the newly appointed President of the National
Council, Sir Peter Lloyd.
For more information, please see the press
release
(PDF file size 6kb) issued in connection with the launch.
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