Maqsood Ahmed was named as special adviser on all Muslim issues at a Prison Service conference on Tuesday afternoon.

The BBC's Geeta Guru-Murthy reports: "The increase in Muslim prisoners is partly demographic"

He will advise on issues including notification of Holy days and special diets and will be represented on the Advisory Group on Religion in Prisons.

There are currently almost 4,500 Muslim prisoners in jails in England and Wales.

This is nearly double the figure five years ago.

Under-representation

According to BBC research, Muslims in prison blame a variety of factors for the rising numbers.

These include social deprivation, peer pressure and movement away from the stabilising effect of the family and community.

Academics say part of the reason for the increase is the rise in numbers of Asian men between the ages of 18 and 25 in the general population.

They warn against scaremongering.

Maria Fitzgerald of the London School of Economics said: "They are not over-represented in the prison population.

"In fact, the numbers are extraordinarily low, given their representation in the population at large and their over-representation in deprived sectors of the community."

Diversity

Announcing Mr Ahmed's appointment, Martin Narey, director general of the Prison Service, said: "There are over 4,000 Muslim prisoners and it is important that we provide opportunities to enable them to practise their religion.

"This appointment demonstrates our commitment to taking practical steps towards diversity."

Mr Ahmed, who has long experience of working with ethnic minorities in Leicester and Watford, where he was a council service manager, welcomed the challenge of his new post.

"I strongly believe that this post is a firm commitment to addressing the concerns of Muslim inmates," he said.

He will take up his post in mid-October and will work with prison governors, chaplains and prisoners.