A judge has asked for more detail about the conditions faced by Muslim inmates in Queensland jails after hearing a refugee who tried to kill his ex-partner was having trouble observing Ramadan.
Muhumed Samow Ali appeared in the Supreme Court in Brisbane today after being convicted of trying to kill his former girlfriend with a machete at Wacol, in Brisbane’s south-west, on September 10, 2015.
He was sentenced to 10 years’ jail for attempted murder, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault and going armed as to cause fear.
Muhumed Samow Ali was sentenced to jail for crimes including attempted murder and assault
Muhumed Samow Ali attempted to kill his former girlfriend with this machete in late 2015
Justice Rosyln Atkinson wanted to hear more detail about the jail conditions faced by Muslims
The Somalian refugee, then 52, drove his car head-on into his 45-year-old ex-partner’s vehicle near a train station then struck her seven times in the head and back with a machete as she tried to escape. She suffered a fractured skull.
Ali’s lawyer, Ben Power, told the court his client suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder due to his experiences in his native Somalia.
Mr Power also told the court Ali was having problems properly observing Islam behind bars and had been teased during his prayers. He had been assaulted in jail.
‘The situation is there are also very few Muslims in jail,’ Mr Power said, according to The Courier-Mail.
‘He has real problems with the food in the jail … Ramadan is very difficult because they don’t make allowances for fasting so he has to store up his food in order to eat it after dusk or dawn in order to observe Ramadan.’
‘He says he is often taunted during his required prayers.’
A Queensland inmate has complained he is not able to properly observe Ramadan in prison
Muhumed Ali, who tried to kill his ex-partner, says he has been taunted during Islamic prayers
Muhumed Samow Ali was having difficulty getting halal meals (stock image of Lebanese food)
Ali, who denied trying to kill his ex-partner, also had concerns about the halal status of some prison food.
Justice Roslyn Atkinson had said she wanted more information on the conditions for Muslim prisoners before she sentenced Ali, according to the newspaper.
‘Obviously he has the right and he should have the expectation of being able to practise his religion and all that that involves without any difficulty … including any fasting requirements,’ Justice Atkinson said.
‘And I would be surprised that he is not allowed to do that.’
Justice Atkinson also said English lessons would help Ali not feel ‘so isolated’. Such lessons were not available.
Later in the day Justice Atkinson sentenced Ali to 10 years’ jail, dismissing submissions his traumatic experiences fleeing Africa contributed to the attack upon his ex-partner.
‘She wanted to end the relationship and she’s entitled to do that without the fear of retribution or violence,’ Justice Atkinson said, according to 9 News.
‘A woman that wants to end a relationship should be protected. The victim did nothing to deserve this kind of violence.’
The Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law precinct in Brisbane where Muhumed Ali was sentenced