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«IZVESTIYA IRKUTSKOGO GOSUDARSTVENNOGO UNIVERSITETA». SERIYA «POLITOLOGIYA. RELIGIOVEDENIE»
«THE BULLETIN OF IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY». SERIES «POLITICAL SCIENCE AND RELIGION STUDIES»
ISSN 2073-3380 (Print)

List of issues > Series «Political Science and Religion Studies». 2026. Vol 56

Islamist Ideology in Prisons in Russia and France in the 2020s: A Comparative Analysis

Author(s)

A. N. Starostin,  N. V. Safonova

Institute of Oriental Studies RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract
Islamism, as a political ideology, remains widespread in correctional facilities. In this article, the authors examine the current stage of development of Islamist ideology in prisons in Russia and France. They focus on the interaction of imams with prisoners (with reference to international experience) in the fight against radicalization. They also outline the main characteristics of radicalized prisoners and the ways in which Islamist extremism spreads. Of particular interest are bureaucratic and institutional processes in correctional facilities in the French Republic, where the creation of the National Council of Muslim Chaplains and the adoption of new documents regulating their activities have separated the imams' "spiritual" ministry from prison administration. An analysis of the experience of correctional facilities in France shows that imams and religious intermediaries play a significant role in deradicalizing prisoners and combating the influence of prison jamaats. They are an alternative source of knowledge (regarding traditional/moderate Islam) that can compete with extremist preachers.
About the Authors

Safonova Natalia Vyacheslavovna, Candidate of Sciences (History), Research Scientist Institute of Oriental Studies RAS 12, Rozdestvenka st., 107031, Moscow, Russian Federation e-mail: safonovanat@gmail.com

Starostin Aleksei Nicolaevich, Candidate of Sciences (History), Senior Research Scientist Institute of Oriental Studies RAS 12, Rozdestvenka st., 107031, Moscow, Russian Federation e-mail: alisheria@mail.ru

For citation
Starostin A.N., Safonova N.V. Islamist Ideology in Prisons in Russia and France in the 2020s: A Comparative Analysis. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2026, vol. 56, pp. 74–90. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2026.56.74 (in Russian)
Keywords
Islamism, penitentiary institutions, radicalization, extremism, FSIN, chaplains.
UDC
94(47)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2026.56.74
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