Pastor: Muslim Prisoners Storm Christian Prayer, Praise Terrorists

GettyImages-496393904
Dan Kitwood/Getty

A Christian chaplain at a south London prison had his gatherings stormed by pro-terrorist Muslims and was hounded out his job by an Islamic imam accusing him of extremism.

Pastor Paul Song has now been reinstated at Brixton prison after a review into the allegations, which led to the prison ordering him to leave the voluntary job, the Mail on Sunday reports.

He also said he was racially abused because of his Korean origins and prisoners were often forced to convert to Islam. The Muslim chaplain, appointed in 2015, was “physically intimidating” and complained about his resources:

“Imam Mohamed’s discriminatory agenda was clear from the outset. He began scrutinising the material for each of our courses, commenting that the material was ‘too radical’, and that the Christian views expressed were ‘extreme’.

“He paid scant regard to the fact that the courses are mainstream Christian courses, used by churches throughout the world. He also said he wanted to ‘change the Christian domination’ within HMP Brixton.”

The paper also reports that Muslims hijacked his Bible classes with three inmates appearing in the chapel one afternoon, interrupting a discussion on divine grace to loudly praise the terrorist killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby.

“To do this in a place of worship was obscene,” Pastor Song said. “Some openly spoke in the chapel in support of Islamic State.”

Mr Song served at the prison for 19 years and argues there has been a recent power shift, with radical Muslims taking control before he was forced out.

He blamed Imam Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed, appointed in the jail a couple of years earlier, for falsely claiming he preaches “radical” Christianity and for upending the multi-faith religious support offered to inmates.

Mr Song was initially denied a proper hearing but reporting in the media helped to pressure the prison to take action.

In August the Governor of Brixton prison, David Bamford, met with Pastor Song to discuss Governor Pennington’s findings.

He confirmed that the report concluded that “the decision to exclude Paul Song from HMP Brixton is not a reasonable one; due process was not followed in line with PSI42/2014 for the exclusion of an individual.

“I, therefore, recommend that Paul Song be reinstated as a volunteer chaplain at HMP Brixton.”

The Christian Legal Centre, which took up Pastor Song’s case, commented: “The meeting with Governor Pennington was very open and honest and Pastor Song was given every opportunity to state his case.

“At the conclusion of the meeting, Governor Pennington confirmed she would compile a report that summarised her findings.”

COMMENTS

Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.