Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

February 21, 2022

Syrie : une dizaine de mineurs français dans la prison attaquée par l’EI

News

Minors Middle East Syria

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

February 21, 2022

Algérie : Une quarantaine de détenus du Hirak en grève de la faim

News

Middle East Protest Algeria

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

February 21, 2022

Iran: Troubling execution rates show no sign of slowing down in 2022

News

Middle East Death penalty Iran

The Islamic Republic has long been, and remains, a leading executioner.

February 9, 2022

Yemen: Saudi-led coalition announces probe into prison attack

News

Middle East Yemen

Saudi-led coalition says it will investigate attack on a prison in Saada, northern Yemen, last week that killed dozens of people.

February 9, 2022

Iran : Deux hommes exécutés pour homosexualité

News

Middle East LGBTQI Death penalty Iran

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

February 8, 2022

Lebanon: the LGBTQI population, forgotten prisoners

Interview

Middle East LGBTQI Lebanon

Openly belonging to the LGBTQI community can lead to prison, where there is no dedicated mechanism to protect these individuals. The organisation ProudLebanon is trying to change this. Interview.

January 26, 2022

Iran: Execution of Three Prisoners in Isfahan Prison, 12 Executions in 5 Days

News

Middle East Death penalty Iran

On Thursday, January 13, 2022, the clerical regime hanged three prisoners, Abdul Rahim Sargolzaei, Mohammad Jafar Salehi, and Shahin Khosravi, in Isfahan Prison.

January 24, 2022

Syrie : Des djihadistes s’évadent après l’attaque d’une prison par l’organisation Etat islamique

News

Middle East Syria

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

January 6, 2022

Syrie : le “piano” de la mort de la prison de Palmyre

News

Middle East Death penalty Torture Syria

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

December 20, 2021

Bahrain: the death of political dissidence

Interview

Middle East Material conditions Death penalty Torture Bahrain

Use of the death penalty has increased by 600% in the last decade. Many of those sentenced to death are political prisoners. Torture and the death penalty are allegedly used as strategic tools against political opponents.

October 11, 2021

Libye : des crimes contre l’humanité auraient été commis dans les prisons et contre des migrants

News

Middle East Torture Violence Libya

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

October 11, 2021

A very disturbing situation

Interview

Africa Europe Middle East Torture Violence

The torture and abuse of prisoners have become commonplace over the years. How did these excesses come about? A recently published report takes up this topic.

October 7, 2021

Global Prison Trends 2021

Report

Africa Coronavirus Women Asia Europe Minors Middle East Oceania Health Material conditions Overcrowding Death penalty

More than eleven million people are imprisoned around the world. Of this number, 70% are awaiting trial, a percentage that has been continuously increasing since 2000.

September 28, 2021

Iran: Two inmates found dead in Iranian prison south of Tehran

News

Middle East Iran

Iranian prison authorities confirmed the deaths of two inmates within a week at a jail south of the capital and opened investigations into the circumstances.

September 27, 2021

Global prison crisis

Interview

Africa Coronavirus Crises Asia Europe Middle East Oceania Overcrowding

The world prison population is still increasing. How does the COVID-19 crisis differ from other ongoing or future crises? Are prison environments doomed to be in perpetual crisis?

September 14, 2021

Israël : fin de cavale pour quatre des six Palestiniens évadés d'une prison israélienne

News

Middle East Israel

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

September 6, 2021

Syria: young man from eastern Ghouta dies in regime prison, after three years of detention

News

Middle East Material conditions Torture Violence Syria

Sources have reported that a young man from Arbin city in eastern Ghouta in Rif Dimashq died under torture in Sednaya military prison, known as the “Slaughterhouse”, after he was detained for nearly three years.

August 6, 2021

Iraq: torture widespread in detention centers

News

Pre-trial detention Middle East Access to legal rights Health Torture Violence Iraq

The United Nations accused the government of Iraq of the widespread torture of detainees held in the country’s detention centers. A U.N. report covers conditions in the centers from July 1, 2019 to April 30, 2021.

August 5, 2021

Iran: Human Rights Watch calls for release of Iranian prisoners as COVID-19 crisis worsens

News

Coronavirus Middle East Health Overcrowding Iran

Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Tuesday of the dangerous situation faced by prisoners in Iran as the COVID-19 crisis deepens in the country, calling on authorities in the Islamic Republic to “unconditionally” release prisoners detained for peaceful dissent. “Iran’s prison authorities should unco…

August 5, 2021

Syria: US imposes sanctions on Syrian prisons

News

Middle East Torture Violence Syria

The US Treasury Department said on Wednesday it had imposed sanctions on eight Syrian prisons run by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s intelligence apparatus and five senior officials who control the sites, where human rights abuses have taken place.

July 21, 2021

Saudi Arabia: new details of alleged torture leaked

News

Women Middle East Torture Saudi Arabia

Prison guards describe harrowing scenes concerning political detainees

July 1, 2021

Syrie : les prisonniers du régime, un business juteux pour les escrocs, face à des familles désespérées

News

Middle East Health Death penalty Torture Violence Syria

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

June 29, 2021

Saudi Arabia: two women’s rights activists released from prison

News

Women Middle East Violence Saudi Arabia

Two Saudi women’s rights campaigners have been released from prison, three years after a sweeping crackdown by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman targeting female activists who’d peacefully advocated for greater freedoms, rights groups said Sunday.

June 9, 2021

Yemen: detainees tortured and arbitrarily detained for years then forced into exile upon release

News

Pre-trial detention Middle East Foreign prisoners Access to legal rights Torture Violence Yemen

The Huthi de facto authorities in Yemen must not use arbitrarily detained prisoners as pawns in ongoing political negotiations, a new report by Amnesty International said today.