Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

February 22, 2023

Egypt: The country's model prison rife with abuses

News

Africa Access to legal rights Torture Violence Egypt

A new prison which Egypt touted as a model for reform and which holds some of its most prominent prisoners denies inmates healthcare and subjects them to punitive treatment including isolation, relatives of those inside and rights groups say. Four prisoners died at the Badr facility because of medi…

Source — Reuters

February 8, 2023

Poland: Prisoners beaten, suffocated and waterboarded

News

Europe Torture Violence Poland

The report, published on Tuesday by the office of Poland’s commission for human rights, a state body, was written by the National Torture Prevention Mechanism (KMPT), which operates within the commissioner’s office. KMPT alleges that inmates were dragged out of their cells and brought to unmonitore…

Source — Notes from Poland

January 12, 2023

China: Rights defender ‘brutally tortured’ in prison

News

Asia Torture China

Chinese human rights activist Lin Mingjie, who is serving a five-year jail term reportedly on fabricated charges, has been subjected to brutal torture in prison, his family members alleged. Lin Mingjie is jailed in Shenyang, the capital city of northeastern Liaoning province. He was subjected to to…

Source — Ucanews

November 28, 2022

Italia: 45 probed for 'torturing' Ivrea prison inmates

News

Europe Torture Violence Italy

Guards, doctors,functionaries and ex-wardens are under investigation

Source — Ansa

November 8, 2022

Afghanistan : des manifestants décrivent les abus des talibans

News

Women Middle East Torture Afghanistan

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

October 28, 2022

Iran: prisoners deprived of all rights

Opinion

Torture Violence Iran

The recent events in Iran are leading to a considerable increase in the number of arrests and people detained. What are the rights of Iranian prisoners? Prison Insider is looking for information on the conditions of detention in Iranian prisons. Ehsan Hosseinzadeh, an Iranian lawyer and political r… Read more

October 14, 2022

Russia: las autoridades penitenciarias imponen duras condiciones a Alexei Navalny

News

Europe Material conditions Torture Violence Russia

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

October 14, 2022

DRC: "psychologically, I am no longer human’ – life after 20 years on death row"

News

Africa Death penalty Torture Congo - Kinshasa

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

October 14, 2022

DRC: a moratorium on the death penalty is just a stepping stone

Opinion

Africa Death penalty Torture Congo - Kinshasa

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has written an opinion piece on the limits of moratoriums and the suffering inflicted on people sentenced to death. We reproduce it here.

Source — OMCT

September 30, 2022

Russia: Brit POW Shaun Pinner was electrocuted and forced to listen to ABBA for 24 hours during torture sessions

News

Asia Foreign prisoners Torture Violence Russia

Hostage Shaun Pinner was electrocuted, stabbed, subjected to a mock execution and forced to listen to ABBA during his time in captivity.The ex-British Army soldier had to endure Mamma Mia over and over during 24-hour music torture sessions.

Source — The Sun

September 30, 2022

Ukraine : battu, poignardé, un Britannique capturé par l'armée russe raconte son calvaire

News

Asia Foreign prisoners Torture Violence Ukraine

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

September 30, 2022

Russie : Alexeï Nalvany détenu dans des conditions toujours plus dures

News

Asia Justice Material conditions Torture Russia

Les conditions dans lesquelles est détenu le militant politique russe Alexeï Navalny semblent empirer, selon des informations et des photos publiées récemment.

Source — Amnesty International

September 26, 2022

Ukraine: news from the front lines

Interview

Europe Material conditions Torture Violence Ukraine

Half a year has passed since the beginning of the war. How has the situation evolved in prison? Vadym Chovgan (Danish Institute against Torture) accepted to update us on the recent developments. Interview. Read more

September 20, 2022

Salvador: procurador Apolonio Tobar confirma muerte de detenidos bajo régimen de excepción en el país

News

South America Justice Torture El Salvador

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

September 20, 2022

Russia: a prisoners’ rights activist says escaped assassination

News

Europe Torture Russia

Vladimir Osechkin heads the Gulagu.net project, which has in recent years published videos showing graphic scenes of torture and rape inside Russian prisons. Russian authorities placed him on a wanted list late last year for unspecified crimes. In a video interview with independent journalist Yulia…

Source — The Moscow Times

September 20, 2022

Myanmar: death of activists in custody

News

Asia Torture Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar’s military and police are responsible for scores of deaths in custody since the February 1, 2021 military coup, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch documented the deaths of six detained activists that involved apparent torture or the denial of adequate medical care. The junta…

Source — Human Rights Watch

September 20, 2022

China: Xinjiang official figures reveal higher prisoner count

News

Asia Torture China

The Chinese government has used its justice system to sentence and imprison an estimated half-million people during the brutal crackdown in Xinjiang, Human Rights Watch said today. While not all convicted prisoners faced political charges, the available figures indicate that the total number of peo…

Source — Human Rights Watch

June 28, 2022

España: contenciones mecánicas en las cárceles catalanas

News

Europe Torture Violence Spain

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

June 3, 2022

Algeria: seeing things from the other side

Testimonial

Africa Access to legal rights Justice Torture Violence Rehabilitation Algeria

Rachid M. was imprisoned in Algeria from 1996 to 1999. After previously discussing the conditions in prison and what Ramadan is like there, he now talks about his release and his human rights activism. Read more

June 2, 2022

China: Fotografías pirateadas revelan cómo funciona sistema penitenciario en Xinjiang

News

Asia Torture Violence China

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

June 2, 2022

Salvador: Denuncian torturas a capturados durante régimen de excepción

News

Justice Torture El Salvador

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

May 31, 2022

Liban : Le système judiciaire n'enquête toujours pas de manière adéquate sur les allégations de torture, selon un rapport

News

Middle East Material conditions Torture Lebanon

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

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

February 11, 2022

Brasil: Visita del órgano de prevención de la tortura de la ONU para reforzar el mecanismo nacional de prevención de la tortura

News

South America Torture Brazil

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