A Christian chaplain for the British penal system, Pastor Paul
Song, is going to court to get his job back after he was banned for
10 years for exposing Islamic extremism inside prison walls.
The British charity Christian Concern said said Song was banned
in 2017 when Imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed, the former general
secretary of the Islamic Party of Britain who advocated that
Britain be transformed into an Islamic state, was made chief
chaplain.
Mohammed informed Song: “You do not have permission to enter the
wings, nor do you have the permission to speak to any prisoners
here at HMP Brixton. If you do turn up here without my prior
permission, your keys will be confiscated, and you will be walked
to the gate.”
Song denied claims he called an inmate a “terrorist” but was
banned, nevertheless.
He contested the ban, and, with the support of the Christian
Legal Center, took the Ministry of Justice to the High Court.
A government review found the case “troubling,” and Song agreed
to halt the proceedings to allow officials to make corrections. At
the time, 43,000 people signed a petition insisting on his
reinstatement.
Song had submitted evidence that while he still was a chaplain,
his mainstream evangelical courses were hijacked by Islamic
extremists, and inmates took over the prison’s Christian
chapel.
He also reported threats against him and said Muslim gangs were
forcing other inmates to convert to Islam.
He later related his experiences in an interview with a
newspaper, and the penal system again decided to punish him.
He had been told Mohammed had been suspended and that he was
restored to full privileges, but then the prison’s governor, David
Bamford, announced a second suspension.
Eventually, the 10-year ban was announced.
“Left with no alternative but to pursue a judicial review of
this decision, Pastor Song is now bringing a claim to the High
Court on nine grounds, including victimization, breach of public
sector equality duty and for breach of his rights under Articles 9
and 10 of the European Court of Human Rights,” Christian Concern
said.
“Pastor Song’s lawyers will argue that he has been victimized
for exposing the reality of Islamic extremism at the prison to the
media, and that ‘there was nothing new (post-dating the settlement)
which justified the prison taking fresh action against him.'”
One former prisoner, Nigel Williams, is testifying: “I cannot
speak highly enough of Pastor Song. He is a brilliant man of God
with a loving and compassionate heart and I have never heard anyone
say a bad word about him. Paul helped me a lot in my own Christian
faith, and I know there are hundreds of ex-prisoners who have the
highest respect and admiration for Paul and would say that his
actions changed their lives for the better.”
Song previously had served 20 years as a chaplain.
“What has happened to me has set a dangerous precedent for
anyone else who dares to tell the public about the growing
domination of Islamic extremism in our prisons. I am determined to
fight for justice,” he said.
Andrea Williams, head of the Christian Legal Center, said: “The
decision to ban Pastor Song from all prisons for 10 years has sent
a chilling message to anyone prepared to expose wrong-doing and
corruption in our public institutions. Removing him immediately
after the prison authorities had confirmation that he would drop
the high court legal case against his original removal, was cruel,
underhand and unlawful.”
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Prison chaplain banned for 10 years for exposing Islamic
extremism appeared first on WND.
