Middle East

March 18, 2020

News

Coronavirus: Prison Fever

Africa Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean Pre-trial detention South America Asia Europe Middle East Health Material conditions Protest Activities

What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? Here is an overview. — Update 23/11/20 Read more

November 23, 2020

Arabia Saudí: líderes del G20, no se dejen engañar. Las verdaderas agentes del cambio están en la cárcel

News

Women Middle East Access to legal rights Justice Health Protest Torture Violence Saudi Arabia

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

October 26, 2020

Turkey: 60 percent of jailed youth return to prison after being released

News

Minors Europe Middle East Activities Rehabilitation Turkey

60 percent of the children that are jailed in Turkey return to prison again after being released, according to figures from the Youth Re-autonomy Foundation of Turkey (TÇYÖV). 300 children between the ages of 12-15 and 2,800 between the ages of 15-18 are currently imprisoned in child penal facilities…

Source — Duvar English

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October 23, 2020

Arabia Saudí: el Women20 debe exigir la liberación de las activistas saudíes encarceladas

News

Women Middle East Access to legal rights Justice Protest Saudi Arabia

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

October 16, 2020

West Bank: thirty detainees join hunger strike in Ofer prison

News

Middle East Access to legal rights Justice Health Protest Palestinian Territories

The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that thirty detainees held in Ofer Israeli detention center has launched a hunger strike in solidarity with Maher al-Akhras, who continues his strike for the 80th consecutive day. The PPS stated that the thirty detainees started the strike on Wednesday,…

Source — IMEMC news

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September 29, 2020

Afghanistan: life in prison, looking to the future from behind bars

News

Middle East Activities Rehabilitation Work Afghanistan

For many people, prison is only a place where criminals serve their sentence. But there are also prisoners who are transformed during their imprisonment, deciding to abandon their past and change their future. Recently the directorate of prisons initiated a new program called “Prisoners’ Literacy and…

Source — Tolo news

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September 23, 2020

Lebanon: the largest prison grapples with alarming covid-19 outbreak

News

Coronavirus Middle East Health Material conditions Overcrowding Lebanon

Lebanon’s largest prison on Thursday was grappling with an alarming coronavirus outbreak, as many inmates refused to take preventative measures or get tested under the impression that catching the virus could speed up their release as part of a rumored general amnesty, the head of the country’s doctors…

Source — Daily Sabah

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September 22, 2020

Liban: plus de 200 cas de covid-19 dans la principale prison du pays

News

Coronavirus Middle East Health Material conditions Overcrowding Lebanon

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

September 18, 2020

Iran: detainees flogged, sexually abused and given electric shocks in gruesome post-protest crackdown

Pre-trial detention Women Minors Middle East Access to legal rights Justice Protest Torture Violence Iran

Hundreds have since been sentenced to prison terms and flogging and several to the death penalty following grossly unfair trials which were presided over by biased judges behind closed doors

Source — Amnesty international

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September 18, 2020

Turquie: l’écrivain Ahmet Altan entame sa cinquième année en prison en Turquie

News

Culture Europe Middle East Long-term prisoners Access to legal rights Justice Turkey

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

September 18, 2020

Liban : le documentaire qui met le pays face à lui-même

News

Culture Middle East Mental health Lebanon

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

September 18, 2020

Iran: situation of women

News

Women Middle East Health Material conditions Iran

The situation of women in Ahvaz Sepidar prison is extremely critical. Endless torture and harassment, along with the Coronavirus outbreak, coupled with continuous water and electricity cuts, and the lack of minimum cooling equipment, have made the situation excruciating for female prisoners, especially…

Source — NCRI

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July 27, 2020

Egypt: le personnel de santé harcelé et emprisonné

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Africa Coronavirus Middle East Justice Health Egypt

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

July 22, 2020

Iran: Regime seeks pressure on dissidents, minorities through executions

News

Middle East Justice Death penalty Iran

The executions were described by Amnesty International as “an alarming escalation in use of the death penalty against protesters, dissidents and members of minority groups in Iran.” Read more

July 15, 2020

Turkey: les écrits de prison, un genre littéraire à part entière

News

Culture Asia Europe Middle East Turkey

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French, Spanish

June 18, 2020

Global Prison Trends 2020

Report

Africa Asia Europe Middle East Oceania Material conditions Overcrowding

Over 11 million people are held in prisons worldwide. Many face substandard detention conditions. Sentences keep getting longer, in underfunded justice systems. PRI has published its annual report on the state of prisons and the use of imprisonment: Global Prison Trends 2020. Read more

June 11, 2020

Yemen: rights group says detainees face ‘slow death’ in prison

News

Middle East Health Material conditions Yemen

The Yemeni Abductees’ Mothers Association in the city of Aden yesterday warned that the detainees in Bir Ahmed Prison are facing a “slow death” due to ill-treatment by the prison administration. The group said in a statement that the prison administration deliberately mistreats detainees by cutting off…

Source — Middle East Monitor

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June 11, 2020

United Arab Emirates : reported Covid-19 prison outbreaks

News

Coronavirus Middle East Health United Arab Emirates

(Beirut) – UAE prison authorities should take urgent measures to protect the mental and physical health of prisoners amid reported Covid-19 outbreaks in at least three detention facilities across the country, Human Rights Watch said today. Family members of prisoners in al-Wathba prison near Abu Dhabi,…

Source — Human Rights Watch

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May 19, 2020

Turkey: prisons, le pays développe "un modèle inhumain"

News

Pre-trial detention Europe Middle East Justice Turkey

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

May 19, 2020

Unclear fates behind bars

Interview

Africa Pre-trial detention Asia Europe Middle East Oceania

“Since 2000, the overall number of pre-trial detainees has increased by 30%”. They are now up to three million people to be held awaiting trial around the world. What is the purpose of pre-trial detention? How it is used around the world? Read more

May 14, 2020

Israel: Middle East Monitor UN officials call on Israel to release Palestinian children from prison

News

Coronavirus Minors Middle East Israel

In a joint press statement sent to MEMO on Sunday, senior UN officials have called on Israel to release Palestinian children from prison in the light of the spread of Covid-19. “We are seriously concerned over the continued detention of Palestinian children by the Israeli authorities,” said Jamie McGoldrick,…

Source — Middle Esat Monitor

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May 14, 2020

Iran: Ahwazi detainees’ families stage protests at Shaiban Prison against inhuman treatment

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Middle East Protest Torture Iran

Ahwazi detainees’ families protested outside the infamous Shaiban Prison in the regional capital, Ahwaz, on Saturday May 9, demanding access to their loved ones’ and information on their condition and wellbeing. During their protests, the desperately worried families angrily mocked the regime’s claims…

Source — Dur Untash Studies Centre

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May 14, 2020

Coronavirus: distintos países del mundo descongestionan las cárceles

News

Africa Coronavirus North America Europe Middle East Oceania Justice

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

May 5, 2020

Turkey: a life in isolation

Interview

Europe LGBTI Middle East Access to legal rights Material conditions Facilities Turkey

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) prisoners represent a minority. Their protection is not ensured at all levels and their specific needs are neglected. Hilal Basak Demirbas works at the Society in the Penal System association. She regularly exchanges letters with LGBTI prisoners… Read more