The following are excerpts from a letter, dated 5th May 2014, from Moazzam Begg in response to someone who had written to him. Moazzam Begg is currently incarcerated in HMP Belmarsh awaiting trial on Syria-related terrorism charges. This letter has been reproduced from the Islam 21C website.
“Once again I want to thank you and offer my heartfelt gratitude for the obvious time and effort you’ve extended in trying to reach out to me and offer my apologies for taking such a long time to reply. I really should have written to you sooner. May Allāh forgive me.
“Alhamdulillāh, I am spending my time here struggling to find ways in which to utilise my time best, hoping and praying that my relationship with Allāh improves to unprecedented levels and filling my head and heart with all the good that I can gather from my surroundings.
“People of course are in much worse conditions around the world – something I know only too well so we must praise Allāh in all circumstances who saved us from the calamities faced by countless others.
“Perhaps the hardest parts of being imprisoned here is the sense of isolation from the outside world, not knowing what is happening in the world I once inhabited (I don’t mean BBC or ITV news Alhamdulillāh, we get that here) and news pertaining to the Muslim community both locally and worldwide.
“Of course I do spend a lot of time reading, writing, memorising and contemplating the meanings of the Qur’ān and that is something I continually thank Allāh for. This Qur’ān was my only familiar companion in Kandahar, Bagram, Guantanamo; in freedom or in captivity and now again in HMP Belmarsh. I have access to other books from brothers from the prison and Islamic libraries, although my concentration span seems to have slipped somewhat, inshā’Allāh it will improve again.
“MashAllāh I have met several prisoners with whom I can have intelligent and decent conversations – many good Muslims amongst them.
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“Dear Brother, please send my salaams to everyone you know from amongst the brothers and sisters and ask them to remember not just me but all the prisoners who are in need of their prayers and support. Please do write back and this time I will respond as soon as possible. Until then, may Allāh keep you safe and happy.
Your Brother in Faith
Moazzam Begg”
You can write to Moazzam Begg at the following address:
Moazzam Begg, A8423DD, HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, London SE28 0EB
However, please bear in mind the following points:
– Do not discuss his case;
– Keep the letter to a sensible length;
– Bear in mind that all letters are filed and read by the prison security and can be used as evidence against Moazzam during his trial.
