Posted: 11/20/07

Islam in the Prisons

November 21, 2007

Kerby Anderson

Are prisons becoming a recruiting area for terrorists? This is a question I ask and answer in my new book, A Biblical Point of View on Islam. There are some disturbing trends that many are beginning to notice.

            For example, a number of national security experts say that the radicalization and recruitment of terrorists in US prisons present a threat of "unknown magnitude." Often these prisons have been fertile breeding grounds for radical thought. They say: "Radical Islamists have been more active in European prisons, but there have been a handful of documented cases of Islamist radicalization in US prisons."

 
            Chuck Colson puts it this way: "I don't usually make predictions, but here's one I'll venture: If, God forbid, an attack by home-grown Islamist radicals occurs on American soil, many, if not most, of the perpetrators will have converted to Islam while in prison."

            A recent study by researchers from George Washington University and the University of Virginia, titled "Out of the Shadows," concluded that the United States is at risk of the same sort of homegrown terrorism that is currently plaguing other countries. These terrorists will come from prisons which "are a potential pool of recruits by terrorist groups." The sources of radicalization are incarcerated Islamic extremists and outside organizations that support them."  Much of this material is provided by known al-Qaeda affiliates that urge Muslim prisoners "to wage war against non-Muslims who have not submitted to Islamic rule."

            So what can we do? First educate yourself on the issue by reading books like mine or others concerned about this trend. Second, support Christian ministries in the prisons that present the truth of the gospel and provide a necessary antidote to Islamic radicalism in the prisons. I'm Kerby Anderson, and that my point of view.

By Kerby Anderson Click here for bio and archived articles