Mrs Khyam: Well, I think that firstly, the prison service needs to take this threat seriously. They need to act as quickly as possible; it’s a matter of urgency. It’s hard enough being in prison. They have lengthy sentences to serve. The prison staff needs to take their job seriously and ensure the safety of ALL prisoners through whichever means necessary.

Al-Istiqamah: Forty years minimum in your husband’s case. These were unprecedented lengthy sentences for convictions under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Mrs Khyam: That’s just it. Having to deal with the stress of these threats is just too much on top of it all. It’s the guards’ responsibility to protect them. We’re not asking for preferential treatment.

Al-Istiqamah: The attacks have involved Muslim inmates convicted in very recent high profile cases with intense media attention. Do you think that if such threats are not taken seriously, it will eventually be any Muslim at risk, whether arrested on terrorism charges or otherwise?

Mrs Khyam: I do think so, yes. I think it will get worse until such incidents become widespread. The high profile brothers are easier targets, as they are easily identifiable.

Al-Istiqamah: That brings me to another question. All three men, Omar Khyam Eesa Barot and Hussein Osman were constantly, and I might say ridiculously labelled “al-Qa'eda operatives”. In the case of Eesa Barot, he was even dubbed an al Qa'eda “general”. If the inmates believed that was true, I wouldn’t expect them to go anywhere near these men, for fear of repercussions.

Mrs Khyam: That’s a very good point. I think even the inmates know this is all political, but that the current climate enables them to attack such brothers without much fear of reprisals. How on earth are they going to spend decades like this? My husband is in segregation now…

Al-Istiqamah: How often is he allowed out of solitary confinement? An hour a day?

Mrs Khyam: Even less than that. He’s taken to the exercise yard for 10 or 15 minutes a day. He’s allowed to have a shower and twice a week he can make a 5 minute phone call. That’s it. The room is extremely basic with just a bed and toilet. He has no television or anything and he is not allowed anything to be sent in to him. All he has is one Qur'aan.

Al-Istiqamah: Meals are sent to him?

Mrs Khyam: That’s right.

Al-Istiqamah: Is he the only prisoner in the exercise yard?

Mrs Khyam: He is sectioned off by fencing. Eesa Barot’s attackers are in the yard at the same time, and they have called across the fence to my husband, “Who are you?

 

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