British prisons plagued by ISIS-supporting extremists, who hold Sharia trials, groom inmates – report
December 23, 2019, 11:31 am

British prisons plagued by ISIS-supporting extremists, who hold Sharia trials, groom inmates

Islamist extremists interned in Britain’s prisons preside over Sharia trials and prey on young Muslims in hopes of radicalizing them, the Times of London has reported.

A former prisoner at HMP Woodhill, in Milton Keynes, told the paper that he had been recruited by a group of inmates that pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). According to his account, the prison had its own self-appointed “emir,” who oversaw a makeshift Sharia court at the penitentiary. The ex-convict said he had participated in the “trial” of two prisoners who had supposedly disrespected Islam by drinking alcohol. The men were found guilty and received beatings as punishment.

The group purportedly had access to recordings of senior Al-Qaeda member Anwar al-Awlaki. Many members of the extremist sect are violent offenders who converted to Islam while in prison, the Times said. The ex-extremist told the paper that since leaving prison he has received messages from inmates offering him passage to Syria.

Radicalization in Britain’s prisons has come under scrutiny following an attack at London Bridge last month. Usman Khan, a Category A terrorist prisoner freed on parole, murdered two people before being gunned down by police.

Reforms to tackle the spread of extremism in the penitentiary system have been inexplicably stalled, Richard Walton, former head of Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command, told the Times.

Source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”