The article titled “Community as Sanctuary: Reentry Experiences of Formerly Incarcerated Muslims” by Assist. Prof. İbrahim Emre Yanık, a faculty member of the Department of Sociology at Ibn Haldun University, was published on December 10, 2025, in the Q2-ranked Journal of Justice, Opportunities, and Rehabilitation. This ethnographic study offers an in-depth examination of the experiences of formerly incarcerated Muslims returning to a small city in upstate New York.
It highlights their complex journey of navigating profound habitus shifts, the persistence of disciplinary behaviors shaped by prison life, and the welcoming support offered by local faith communities. Drawing on six months of participant observation and interviews with Imams, chaplains, and congregants at a local masjid, the research identifies four core themes. First, chaplains serve as crucial “liminal figures,” bridging the highly structured prison life and less regulated community contexts. Second, while institutional routines like “count time” reflexes persist, they represent a starting point from which new habits are formed. Third, the shift from carceral routines to unstructured social environments presents an opportunity for growth and adaptation, which is robustly supported by the faith community. Finally, Imams and the mosque community play a pivotal role in this transition, providing spiritual guidance, practical resources, and a powerful sense of belonging that fosters successful reintegration.
Integrating multiple theoretical frameworks, this study underscores the promise of holistic, culturally sensitive reentry initiatives that empower returning citizens by addressing both material needs and the profound psychological journey of post-incarceration life.
We congratulate our faculty member and wish him continued success.
