Violence
Pre-trial detention
Asia
Health
Material conditions
Overcrowding
Violence
Social ties
Azerbaijan
Media reports regarding the harsh conditions in pretrial detention centres have intensified following the publication of letters from journalists and activists in prison.
Women
Middle East
Suicide
Violence
Saudi Arabia
Girls and young women describe facing flogging and abuse in so-called “care homes” after arguing with their fathers or husbands.
Europe
Discipline
Health
Material conditions
Violence
Belarus
A Belarusian political prisoner, jailed for criticizing President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has died under unclear circumstances, independent media and human rights groups say.
Crises
Europe
Discipline
Material conditions
Violence
Greece
A fire broke out at the Corfu prison, after incarcerated people reportedly set fire to mattresses and plastic in protest against intensive cell checks, according to kerkyrasimera.gr. The protest is concentrated in the E and G wings of the facility.
Crises
Women
Middle East
Health
Material conditions
Violence
Israel
Israeli occupation authorities are reportedly holding two Palestinian women, both five months pregnant, under harsh conditions at Damon Prison, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported.
Australia: violent assaults, self-harm incidents, use of 'chemical agents' occuring at Darwin prison
News
Crises
Oceania
Discipline
Health
Overcrowding
Violence
Australia
Violent assaults and incidents of self-harm are occurring regularly inside Darwin’s overcrowded prison, with government documents also revealing the use of “chemical agents” by officers.
Middle East
Health
Overcrowding
Violence
Iraq
Justice Ministry dismissed viral footage showing incarcerated person abuse inside Baghdad’s al-Taji prison as “outdated.” “Disciplinary and legal measures were taken against both the inmates and staff involved,” ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi Abdul Hussein stated.
El Salvador: anguished families are losing hope as they can’t reach loved ones sent to mega-prison
News
Crises
Central America and the Caribbean
Material conditions
Torture
Violence
Social ties
El Salvador
Carmen Bonilla has barely slept for nearly two months, her mind filled with terrifying thoughts about what might be happening to her son, whose dream to go to the United States for a better life has turned into a waking nightmare.
Europe
LGBTQI
Health
Mental health
Material conditions
Overcrowding
Violence
Turkey
Gökalp, a member of the LGBTI+ commission of the Socialist Party (SOLDEP), was arrested on May 2 in İzmir and sent to prison. Gökalp’s lawyer, Deniz Can Aydın, called for her immediate release, citing serious health concerns and claims of harassment in prison due to her gender identity.
Crises
Women
Middle East
Health
Mental health
Material conditions
Torture
Violence
Social ties
Religion
Iran
Blood runs down prison corridors. Sewage seeps beneath cell doors. Drugged women drift in and out of consciousness. The women’s ward of Sepidar prison, in southern Ahvaz, houses around 400 women, mostly Arab, denied even the most basic human dignities afforded elsewhere in Iran’s penal system.
Pre-trial detention
Europe
Justice
Health
Violence
Georgia
A 46-year-old man, Ioseb Gorgadze, died, May 4, after three months of treatment at the Vivamedi clinic, where he was transferred from prison in late January with multiple injuries. His lawyer claims that he was “severely beaten” in custody and alleges abuse by prison staff.
North America
Justice
Health
Violence
United States
The corrections officer, Christopher Walrath, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for a sentence of 15 years in state prison. Walrath, 36, also had been indicted on a second-degree murder charge. That was dropped as part of his agreement to plead guilty.
Africa
Health
Material conditions
Protest
Violence
Nigeria
Shocking details have emerged from within the Jos Custodial Centre in Plateau State, revealing a disturbing pattern of neglect, abuse, and systemic deprivation being endured by incarcerated people at the facility.
Central America and the Caribbean
Minors
Justice
Health
Mental health
Material conditions
Violence
Trinidad & Tobago
A High Court judge awarded more than $3 million in compensation to a brother and sister after ruling that their constitutional rights were violated when they were unlawfully detained in adult prison facilities while they were still minors.
Crises
Pre-trial detention
Asia
Foreign prisoners
Access to legal rights
Material conditions
Facilities
Torture
Violence
Social ties
Russia
Russia is holding an estimated 16,000 civilians in arbitrary detention at 180 separate facilities. Taganrog was the most notorious.
Europe
Justice
Mental health
Overcrowding
Violence
Romania
The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) expressed serious concern about the significant increase in prison overcrowding in Romania and called on Romania and other states to eradicate that and informal prison hierarchy.
Asia
Mental health
Suicide
Violence
Armenia
An incarcerated person has died by suicide at Armenia’s Nubarashen correctional facility. According to the penitentiary service, 54-year-old Z.H. hanged himself on 20 April. This marks the 10th death and the 5th suicide in Armenian prisons within the first four months of this year.
South Africa: seven officials from Mangaung prison suspended after murder of incarcerated person
News
Africa
Justice
Violence
Social ties
South Africa
Seven prison officials at the Mangaung Correctional Centre have been suspended following the murder of an imprisoned person. Mpho Mkhumbeni died on 12 March, following an unauthorised raid of his cell where he was pepper-sprayed and beaten the night before.