A NEW report looks at the challenges faced by Muslim women when they are released back into their community from prison. 

Social stigma, cultural taboos and the idea of ‘honour’ are all explored in ‘Sisters in Desistance’, which was launched yesterday at the Khidmat Centre in Lidget Green.

Co-authored by Sofia Buncy and Ishtiaq Ahmed, it follows their 2014 report ‘Muslim Women in Prison – Second Chance – Fresh Horizons’, which looked at the experiences of incarcerated Muslim women.

“After that report came out, we had to be very honest with each other whether we felt that providers would be able to move forward some of the recommendations,” Ms Buncy said.

“A lot of that alluded to culturally competent community-based provision for Muslim women post prison. 

“We felt that we had to build a re-entry model for Muslim women who were coming back, in the community, some aspects of that were to reduce some of the stigma that’s associated and the lack of conversations and invisibility around the topic.”

Ms Buncy said it was a case of taking ownership with the trial at the Khidmat Centre, which has now been underway for around two years.

Those who have taken part say they feel their cultural and faith needs were recognised when support plans were put in place, taking into consideration the “unwritten values and norms” which govern family and community life.

“You can’t just pick up a book and read what these are,” says the report.

“It is only if you are born in this community that you have real insight into how ingrained and strong these are.”

A film has been created alongside the report to be used as a training tool for the criminal justice system and also to highlight the challenges faced by Muslim women post-release.

The report looks at how families fear compromising social standing and integrity.

It highlights the thought of one father: “What would people say if we took her back? I have other daughters of marriageable age. Who would want to ask for their hand knowing she lives in the house?”

While one ex-prisoner said: “People are usually very unforgiving if you’re a Muslim woman coming out of prison.

“A lot of the time, we are cut off by family and community so no one else wants to bother with us either. Men are just able to come back out and fit in no matter what they’ve done.”

Another woman said: “It was tough for me but even tougher for my children, for them they had lost their mother.

“As far as they were concerned I could be gone forever. They carried the stigma of their mother being sent to prison. Who could they turn to grieve?”

Ms Buncy said: “It’s about re-integrating women. About 70 per cent of the women we worked with last year have gone on to further education, volunteering or employment. 

“They feel very empowered, they feel like people are listening to them.”

It’s now hoped this model can be duplicated to help other women from communities under the BAME banner. But the report says equality cannot be delivered ‘on the cheap’, with change calling for “proper investment”.