Dedicated aid worker receives royal acclaim

required sensitive handling.

“Prisons had to approach the idea with a natural caution and had to be convinced of the viability and benefits of the outcomes.

“The community opinions were very much divided on the need for such a project, partly because they could not see its relevance, and partly due to the embarrassment that it may unearth for the image of the community.”

But he added: “Sofia successfully managed to get the Prison Governor Diane Pellow and Reducing Reoffending manager Susan Field on board with the project and worked very closely with the Equality Officer Jen Gagg to reach out to women in these establishments and to build trust, rapport and respect with them so they would share their stories.

“Her enthusiasm and warm personality very quickly won over the prison staff and the Muslim women inmates.”

Although there are relatively few Muslim women in prison compared to their male counterparts, Ishtiaq said: “the bigger issue overshadowing this subject is the strong stigma and taboo which being a female offender brings in dishonouring the ‘family and community name.’”

Sofia quickly identified Muslim women prisoners had other critical needs, including “family mediation, deportation issues, legal and sharia advice and resettlement.”

Another aspect of her work “involved raising awareness of particular cultural issues such as the ‘birth of Muslim babies in prison.’”

Sofia of Greenhead said: “Being a taboo and ‘shut’ area of need, it had many inherent challenges. Foremost, Muslim women prisoners are not on the community’s radar.

“In fact, the community refuses to acknowledge Muslim women could be capable of criminality in any shape or form whatsoever.

“Added to this, there is a strong sense of shame and dishonour which at best means women can be marginalised by their families and community and at worst can result in severe consequences.”