Description

For residents of prison – particularly those serving long sentences or life in prison – priorities, concerns, worries and daily life are fraught with a unique experience that could not have been anticipated. Prisons around the world differ but the needs of human beings are largely the same. The natural instinct to preserve life, to earn, to seek subsistence, companionship, friendship, to maintain ties with family, preserve mental health, physical health, personal hygiene and other mundane human concerns are not negated or mitigated by imprisonment.

Communities form, licit and illicit markets appear, unofficial currencies, novel contracts, deals and circulation of necessary products and services create a prison economy, often known only to prisoners.

The phenomenon of unofficial shops in the UK prison system has become common, predominantly among long term prisoners in the ‘dispersal’ system. The question of their Islamic legality being controversial, this book specifically responds to the question.