Too many Muslims in high-security prison?

LONDON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The number of Muslim inmates at a maximum-security prison in eastern England doubled between 2006 and 2008, officials say.

There were 73 Muslims held at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire in 2006, and 140 two years later, The Telegraph reported. That was about one-third of the inmate population.

Prison inspectors said staff at Whitemoor did not know how to handle Muslim inmates and "left them to police themselves."

Malcolm Moss, a member of Parliament representing the district around Whitemoor, suggested the number of Muslims is too high for a prison in a rural area.

"It is placing a disproportionate and unreasonable burden on prison officers and staff at Whitemoor," he said. "This is easily the highest percentage of Muslim prisoners in any British jail."