Welsh language speaker alleges discrimination at Britain’s largest prison

A Welsh language speaker has alleged he and others are being discriminated against for speaking Welsh in HMP Berwyn. Prison campaigners, grassroots activists and Welsh language campaigners are also speaking out about this. Welsh independence movement Undod said:

Undod and Prisoner Solidarity Network are campaigning together to stop the persecution of Welsh language speakers at HMP Berwyn. Prisoner Solidarity Network has been made aware of the ongoing harassment and separation of first language Welsh speakers by staff at HMP Berwyn in North Wales.

Rhodri Cynfor ab Eilian is a prisoner in HMP Berwyn and The Canary spoke to his sister. Speaking in Welsh translated by his sister, ab Eilian alleges:

We are being segregated here. People get IEP [Incentives and Earned Privileges] warnings for speaking Welsh. People have to wait a month to get letters in Welsh. The prison staff are racist towards welsh speakers and black people.

They always question why I speak Welsh. If I speak elsh with someone they hang around like a fruit fly and discourage you from speaking welsh. HMP stoke heath in Shropshire is more accommodating to welsh speakers than HMP Berwyn