Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

September 11, 2024

Iran: political prisoner self-immolates in prison

News

Middle East Protest Iran

Political prisoner Kazem Alinejad set himself on fire in Iran’s notorious Evin prison, according to reports received by IranWire. Alinejad was taken to Taleghani Hospital in Tehran for treatment and returned to Evin prison after his wounds were treated.

September 9, 2024

Iran: three incarcerated women strike against treatment in jail

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Crises Middle East Health Mental health Protest Social ties Iran

Three women political prisoners in Tehran’s Evin prison have gone on hunger and medicine strikes to protest their conditions and treatment.

August 11, 2024

United Kingdom: overcrowding, drug misuse and violence, a journey through the prison system in numbers

News

Europe Minors Mental health Drugs Protest Overcrowding Violence Rehabilitation United Kingdom

Prisons across the country are in a deep state of crisis – the extent of which is exposed by the latest statistics. Soaring rates of violence, self-harm and drug misuse have become widespread in overcrowded prisons in England and Wales. The prison population remains “within a few hundred places of…

July 16, 2024

Iran: anti-execution campaign expands to 11 prisons on 25th week

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Crises Middle East Justice Protest Death penalty Iran

The “No Execution Tuesdays” campaign, a prisoner-led initiative against capital punishment in Iran, has entered its 25th consecutive week. This Tuesday, prisoners in Ardabil and Qaimshahr prisons participated in the campaign, expanding its reach to 11 prisons in the country.

May 29, 2024

Myanmar: political prisoners in Myitkyina get an extra three and a half years behind bars for prison riot

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Asia Justice Material conditions Protest Violence Myanmar (Burma)

The 13 prisoners have been held in solitary confinement since they were targeted in a crackdown on unrest more than a month ago.

April 28, 2024

Türkiye: a report reveals systematic human rights violations in the country's prisons

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Europe Access to legal rights Justice Health Protest Overcrowding Social ties Turkey

The “2022-2023 Prison Rights Violations Report” highlights systemic human rights abuses in Turkish prisons, revealing a disturbing trend of political repression and isolation practices, particularly concerning the treatment of political prisoners, including Abdullah Öcalan.

March 13, 2024

Italy: the country plans prison crackdown that pushes Western boundaries

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Europe Justice Material conditions Protest Overcrowding Italy

Prisoners in the northern Italian city of Parma are on hunger strike over poor sanitation and overcrowding, the latest in a spate of protests in the country’s jails where cases of suicide and self-harm are at an all-time high. Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right government has responded by threatening to m…

March 4, 2024

Haiti: double jailbreak allows thousands of prisoners to escape

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Central America and the Caribbean Protest Violence Haiti

Haiti has declared a three-day state of emergency and a night-time curfew after armed gangs stormed the country’s two biggest jails, allowing more than 3 000 prisoners to escape.

January 19, 2024

Ecuador: security forces launch major prison operation

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South America Protest Violence Ecuador

Security forces have launched an operation in a major prison complex in the port city of Guayaquil. Soldiers and police officers have entered the facility and say they have restored order following a week of rioting in jails across the country.

October 31, 2023

China : RSF urges for release of political commentator on hunger strike, at risk of dying

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Asia Material conditions Protest China

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate release of political commentator Guo Feixiong.

September 18, 2023

Bahrain: prisoners suspend weeks-long mass hunger strike

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Middle East Material conditions Protest Bahrain

The suspension of the strike comes before the crown prince’s visit to the United States, and as Bahrain vows to improve conditions.

February 8, 2023

Myanmar: Activists fight on in belly of the beast

News

Asia Protest Myanmar (Burma)

Political prisoners have continued to express dissent from inside, often with violent consequences, as tensions simmer with prison officials.

January 12, 2023

Ethiopia: OLA fighters set hundreds of detainees free

News

Africa Protest Ethiopia

Members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group operating against government forces in Oromia region, broke into a zonal correction facility in Bule Hora town, Southern Oromia, on Saturday 07 January and set more than 480 prisoners free.

June 28, 2022

Colombia: grave incendio en la cárcel de Tuluá deja 51 muertos y al menos 30 heridos

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South America Facilities Protest Colombia

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

February 24, 2022

Brasil: Pelea en una cárcel causa cinco muertos y 18 heridos

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South America Protest Violence Brazil

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

February 22, 2022

Uruguay: The straw that broke the camel’s back

Investigations Interview

South America Material conditions Protest Violence Uruguay

Riots provoked changes in prison.

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 11, 2022

Honduras: Violenta pelea en una cárcel deja al menos cuatro muertos y 11 heridos

News

Central America and the Caribbean Protest Violence Honduras

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

December 7, 2021

Ecuador: UN experts call for urgent action to stop prison violence

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South America Protest Violence Ecuador

UN human rights experts today called on Ecuador to take urgent action to prevent further loss of life in the country’s jails following a series of riots which have left more than 280 inmates dead and hundreds injured this year.

October 25, 2021

Mexique : La criminalisation des manifestations autochtones

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North America Discipline Protest Mexico

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

October 13, 2021

Ecuador: agony of brutal prison massacre endures for bereaved relatives

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South America Protest Violence Ecuador

At least 119 inmates died in a Guayaquil jail after local gangs’ links with Mexican cartels brought a new level of horror.

August 6, 2021

Colombia: violent repression, paramilitarism, illegal detention and torture of peaceful protesters in Cali

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Pre-trial detention South America Protest Torture Violence Colombia

The city of Cali, capital of the department of Valle del Cauca, is in one of the regions hardest hit by the internal armed conflict and where various armed groups have proliferated and continue to operate, resulting in thousands of people being displaced and killed.

July 27, 2021

Equateur : le pays déclare "l'état d'urgence" dans ses prisons

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South America Protest Overcrowding Violence Ecuador

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

July 27, 2021

Hong Kong : premier suspect reconnu coupable en vertu de la loi sur la sécurité

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Asia Justice Protest China

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