When Only God Can See

The Faith of Muslim Political Prisoners

Walaa Quisay, Asim Qureshi

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Paperback

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English

Pluto Press
20 April 2024

Religion & politics; Islamic life & practice; Penology & punishment

'This beautifully written and harrowing book bears witness to the devastating experience of imprisonment; it shows the centrality of faith; and tenderly details the prayers, communities and acts of resistance that sustained these prisoners when faced with forced disappearance, punishment, and torture' - Laleh Khalili

When Only God Can See uncovers the unique experiences of Muslim political prisoners held in Egypt and under US custody at Guantanamo Bay and other detention black sites. This groundbreaking book explores the intricate interplay between their religious beliefs, practices of ritual purity, prayer, and modes of resistance in the face of adversity. Highlighting the experiences of these prisoners, faith is revealed to be not only a personal spiritual connection to God, but also a means of contestation against prison and state authorities, reflecting larger societal struggles.

Written by Walaa Quisay, who has worked closely with prisoners in Egypt, and Asim Qureshi, with years of experience supporting detainees at Guantanamo Bay, the authors' deep connections with prisoner communities and their emphasis on the power of resistance shine through.

By: Walaa Quisay, Asim Qureshi
Imprint: Pluto Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 18mm
ISBN: 9780745348957
ISBN 10: 0745348955
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 20 April 2024
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Foreword by Omar Khadr and Layla Introduction 1. Custody 2. The Prayers of Prisoners 3. The Ummah of Prisoners 4. Belief, Crisis and the Qur'an 5. Ethereal Beliefs 6. Torture 7. Faith and Resistance Conclusion: Religion and the Deification of the National Security State

Walaa Quisay is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. She has worked at numerous academic institutions, including the University of Manchester, the University of Birmingham and Istanbul Sehir University. She is the author of Neo-Traditionalism in Islam in the West: Orthodoxy, Spirituality, and Politics. Asim Qureshi is Research Director at CAGE, an independent advocacy group working to empower communities impacted by the War On Terror. He specialises in investigating the impact of counterterrorism practices worldwide, and advises legal teams involved in defending terrorism trials in the US and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He is the author of When Only God Can See.

Reviews for When Only God Can See: The Faith of Muslim Political Prisoners

'This beautifully written and harrowing book does several things magisterially: it bears witness to the devastating experience of imprisonment in Egypt and the carceral houses-of-horror devised by the US in its War on Terror; it shows the centrality of faith in the lives of the Muslim prisoners whose stories are so sensitively rendered here; and tenderly details the dreams, prayers, communities and acts of resistance that sustained these prisoners when faced with forced disappearance, punishment, and torture.' -- Laleh Khalili, author of 'Time in the Shadows: Confinement in Counterinsurgencies' 'This is no easy read - but, for anyone who wants to understand the story of Muslim political prisoners in the 21st century and their unique connection to faith, it's essential reading. Qureshi and Quisay have welded together the experiences and reflections of prisoners held in torturous conditions across continents and given life to their inner strengths and sensitivities. In giving a substantive voice to Egyptian women prisoners as much as it does to Muslim men imprisoned in Bagram and Guantanamo, this book opens a holistic door into the very heart and soul of how we all survived some of the most brutal prisons in the world.' -- Moazzam Begg, former Guantanamo Bay detainee and author of 'Enemy Combatant'