Muslims practicing faith behind bars

Chaplains describe the typical inmate convert as a poor black man upset about racism, not Mideast politics; someone who turned to Islam to cope with imprisonment. When they get out, these men are so overwhelmed by alcoholism or poverty that the crimes they are most likely to commit are the ones that landed them in jail to begin with, chaplains say.

"They don't care about Osama bin Laden," said Imam Talib Abdur Rashid, who worked for years as a prison chaplain in New York state. "They have their own beefs that have nothing to do with shariah (Islamic law), the Taliban or Wahhabism, and everything to do with slavery, segregation and the history of U.S. racism."

If extreme teachings are reaching U.S. prisoners, experts say small-time operators acting alone are more likely to be responsible than an underground movement or a professional chaplain.

Still, radicals have historically been successful recruiting behind bars, and there is growing concern about militants looking for inmate recruits in other countries. That is fueling fear about American prisons, where just defining the Islamic presence among inmates is tricky.

Though they comprise about 6 percent of roughly 150,000 federal inmates, there are no nationwide statistics on Muslims in state prisons. Experts believe the largest populations can be found in states such as New York, where Muslims comprise roughly 18 percent of the 63,700 inmates, and Pennsylvania, where the figure is about 18 percent out of 41,100.

Overall, the percentage of American Muslims in prison is considered higher than it is in the general population, where the number of Muslims could be as high as 6 million, or roughly 2 percent.

Islam took hold in prison in the 1940s and spread for decades through the Nation of Islam, which mixes black nationalism with Muslim traditions. But by the 1980s, most inmates embraced orthodox Islam instead — and that is what the majority practice today.

Or, at least they say they do.

Some inmates become Muslim either to seek protection from gangs, enjoy privileges like holiday meals, or escape the monotony of prison life. But for others, the change is authentic, and correctional officials say Islamic observance helps maintain prison security.

Duval Rafq, who was convicted of rape and became Muslim two years into his Connecticut prison sentence, said converting led him to accept responsibility for his crime.

"My behavior all of a sudden changed and other people's attitude and behavior toward me changed," said Rafq, who was released five years ago and now works while attending night school.

Despite such success stories, some lawmakers and analysts remain convinced that radicals still have access to inmates — and they note that just one militant inmate could create enormous risk.

Another pressing issue for law enforcement is the background of chaplains working inside prisons.