Muslim prisoners have been asked to utilize reform activities that they learn while serving their respective sentences upon their conviction.
The call was made by Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) Blantyre district chairman Aman Omar when he cheered the prisoners at Chichiri prison on eid-ul-fitr day.
“We (MAM) were providing iftaar food to over 160 prisoners in the month of ramadhaan here at Chichiri prison. And we felt that we should be together with them on this day of eid in order to celebrate with them as well.
“I used this opportunity to call upon the prisoners to transform their lives and change their behaviors so that they should become good Muslims (and exemplary) citizens in this country,” he said.
The Blantyre district committee provided Islamic robes and also brought food to the prisoners on the festive day.
Speaking to Malawi Muslims Website, Chaplin Officer for Chichiri Prison Origen Kilembe thanked MAM Blantyre district for organizing Eid festival for the prisoners and urged every prisoner to (come forward) and freely exercise their freedom of worship at the prison.
“This is 21st century and freedom of worship is guaranteed to every prisoner here at Chichiri Prison including Muslims. We are teaching prisoners to reform; we train them in tailoring and also provide counseling services so that when they get out of here they should become productive citizens for this country,” said Kilembe.
Muslim Prisoners Board secretary Sammy Kachepa also thanked all those who donated towards the programme that their contributions have enabled them to “celebrate Eid with the prisoners (like any other free Muslim) on the day of Eid”
The leader of Muslim prisoners at Chichiri Abbas Juwawo also asked Muslims in the country to keep on visiting them and assured all those present that they are a changed community.
“I would like to assure people that we Muslim prisoners in here have changed our behavior. Yes, we were found on the wrong side of the law and ended up here where we are praying in short trousers, which is against the teachings of Islam but Allah knows (of our conditions here) and we can’t do otherwise.
There are good examples of us who were here but were released and they are doing great out there. One brother is now in Sudan (for further studies) after being sponsored by Islamic Zakaat Fund (IZF), so this brother is just one example of the products of reform facilities provided by the prison to transform our lives”, said Juwawo.
