Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

May 24, 2022

France: the holy month in prison

Testimonial

Europe Religion France

What is Ramadan like behind bars? Mohamed-Iqbal Zaidouni, the regional Muslim Chaplain at Rennes prison tells us all about it. Read more

May 18, 2022

France: in search of meaning

Testimonial

Women Europe Activities Social ties Religion France

Sakina is a Muslim chaplain in prison. She guides female prisoners in their religious practice. Ramadan, daily organiszation, work on self-esteem… She tells us all about it Read more

May 10, 2022

Algeria: a month (almost) like any other

Testimonial

Africa Material conditions Torture Religion Algeria

Rachid M. was imprisoned in El-Harrach and then Tizi Ouzou between 1996 and 1999. He tells us about conditions in prison, visits and Ramadan. Read more

March 24, 2022

Sunny Jacobs: Life Beyond

Testimonial

North America Mental health Death penalty Religion United States

How can you escape prison with your mind? Sunny Jacobs was sentenced to death and spent seventeen years in detention for a crime she did not commit. She tells Prison Insider how yoga, meditation and prayer helped her find freedom behind prison walls. Read more

May 27, 2021

España: La única cárcel para curas del mundo estaba en Zamora: celdas de 5m², torturas y el método del gusano

News

Europe Material conditions Torture Religion Spain

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

May 27, 2021

España: cuatro de las 12 operaciones contra el yihadismo en 2021 en España tuvieron lugar en cárceles

News

Europe Protest Violence Religion Spain

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

February 15, 2021

India: after 70 years, Rajasthan amends prison manual that sanctioned caste-based labour

News

Culture Asia Access to legal rights Justice Activities Religion India

For over 70- years, the Rajasthan state had followed an unconstitutional and violative prison manual that allowed assignment of labour on the basis of a prisoner’s caste. This institutionalised caste practice had continued unchallenged until The Wire’s report exposed the conditions in prisons of Ra…

Source — The Wire Impact

February 12, 2021

Iran : huit prisonniers baloutches et arabes ahwazis sont en danger, dans un contexte de hausse inquiétante des exécutions

News

Middle East Death penalty Torture Violence Religion Iran

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

February 12, 2021

Salvador: inside a prison cell for gay former gang members

News

Culture Central America and the Caribbean LGBTI Drugs Violence Religion El Salvador

In April 2019, Carlos Martinez was visiting a prison for gang members in El Salvador, having gained rare access to help with a photography project. A reporter for national newspaper El Faro, Martinez, 41, was used to dealing with the gangs that have over decades made his country one of the most vio…

Source — Time

December 22, 2020

India: from segregation to labour, Manu’s caste law governs the prison system

News

Culture Women Asia Access to legal rights Justice Religion Work India

Caste-based labour, in fact, is sanctioned in the prison manuals of many states. The colonial texts of the late 19th century have barely seen any amendments, and caste-based labour remains an untouched part of these manuals. While every state has its own unique prison manual, they are mostly based…

Source — The Wire

November 20, 2020

Religion and prison: higher things

Interview

Europe Access to legal rights Mental health Social ties Religion France

Managing prisons (Latin America); providing spiritual care for inmates (Europe); practical support (Africa) – the role of prison chaplains varies from country to country. Read more

November 20, 2020

France : "ils sont surveillés de près"

News

Europe Justice Violence Rehabilitation Religion France

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

November 17, 2020

France: aumônerie musulmane en prison, décryptage d’un phénomène en croissance

News

Europe Access to legal rights Mental health Social ties Religion France

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

November 12, 2020

France: dans les prisons, le défi de la prise en charge des détenus radicalisés

News

Europe Justice Rehabilitation Religion France

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

September 17, 2020

France : suicides en prison

News

Europe Mental health Suicide Social ties Religion France

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

July 15, 2020

Pakistan: dragged to Hell

Asia Death penalty Violence Religion Pakistan

Ashraf had his death sentence converted to life imprisonment. He was held during 18 years, and his spiritual life made him hold on to life while incarcerated. This is his story. Read more

June 10, 2020

Canada: spiritual needs of vulnerable federal inmates unmet during pandemic: chaplains

News

Coronavirus North America Religion Canada

OTTAWA – Federal prison chaplains say the spiritual needs of inmates have become an unnecessary casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when offenders are feeling particularly vulnerable and alone. The Correctional Service of Canada is allowing only emergency in-person visits from chaplains to…

Source — CTV News

May 4, 2020

UK: observing Ramadan in a UK prison

News

Europe Religion United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom - In 2009, at the age of 18, Suleman was sent to HM Prison Glen Parva in the English midlands. One of the biggest challenges he faced while observing Ramadan was knowing what time the fast started and ended. “One thing you don’t have in prisons is a clock in your cell,” he to…

Source — Aljazeera

March 9, 2020

UK: 'our prison deradicalisation programmes aren't working'

News

Europe Discipline Justice Religion United Kingdom

The British prison system currently deals with high-security terrorism convicts by sending them to dispersal prisons. These prisoners are distributed around six maximum security dispersal jails and are regularly moved from one to another. This is done to prevent them from establishing close relatio…

Source — PoliticsHome

February 26, 2020

France: Lille, une prison dans la prison pour les détenus radicalisés

News

Europe Discipline Religion France

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

January 3, 2020

Lebanon: indirect processes of radicalization at Lebanon’s Roumieh

News

Middle East Violence Religion Lebanon

Incarceration centers across the MENA region are known for their lawlessness and tendency to act as incubators for the reinforcement and hardening of ideologies and violent behaviors. Roumieh Prison in Lebanon is no exception.

Source — European Eye on Radicalisation

December 20, 2019

Pāri mūriem

Portfolio

Minors Europe Activities Religion Latvia

Behind the walls of the juvenile detention centre of Cēsis, the prisoners are getting bored. Jérémie Jung leads photography workshops with 10 of them but is confronted with censorship by the prison administration. Read more

November 7, 2019

France: au coeur du nouveau quartier pour radicalisés

News

Europe Discipline Facilities Religion France

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

November 6, 2019

Nigeria: 259 personnes affamées libérées d'une prison islamiste (vidéo)

News

Africa Religion Nigeria

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