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

Delving into the extraordinary experiences of Muslim political prisoners held in Egypt and under US custody at Guantanamo Bay, 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 more significant 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 capturing how faith is practiced and modified behind bars, juxtaposing experiences from different regions, and presenting narratives of resistance When Only God Can See offers a compelling and original exploration of the intersection between faith, incarceration, and resistance.

Asim Qureshi is Research Director at CAGE, an independent advocacy group working to empower communities impacted by The War On Terror. He specializes 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 A Virtue of Disobedience. 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.