Web pages about "Prison Conditions"

Pro-democracy activists in Syria face 15 years in prison

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:23:15 +0100

Twelve pro-democracy activists, currently on trial in Syria, face up to 15 years in prison for calling for democratic reform and respect for human rights.

The activists were arrested in December 2007 and January 2008, after taking part in a meeting of the broad-based opposition coalition, the Damascus Declaration for Democratic National Change (DDDNC). Tens of other participants were arrested but later released without charge.

The 12 activists are being charged with "weakening national sentiment", "broadcasting false or exaggerated news which could affect the morale of the country", joining "an organization formed with the purpose of changing the financial or social status of the state" and "inciting sectarian strife". They are being tried before the Damascus Criminal Court and a verdict is expected on 29 October.

Trial proceedings so far have been marked by serious irregularities. The 12 activists were initially held incommunicado in Damascus by the State Security Branch for up to several weeks, during which time most have said that they were beaten and coerced into signing false "confessions". Their access to lawyers has been restricted, while the lawyers themselves have been denied copies of the case file.

Amnesty International is among several organizations to have voiced concern over the allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, but no official investigation has been conducted by the Syrian authorities.

The organization considers all 12 to be prisoners of conscience detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and to freedom of assembly and association. The organization calls for them to be released immediately and unconditionally and for all charges against them to be dropped.

The DDDNC, established in October 2005, is an unauthorized coalition of political parties, human rights organizations and pro-democracy activists. It brings together groups of different tendencies, including Arab nationalist, Islamic, Kurdish, leftist and liberal.

On 1 December 2007, around 170 members held a meeting to elect the leadership of the
DDDNC National Council; Feda'a al-Horani was elected president, while Akram al-Bunni and Ahmad To'meh were both elected to the senior position of secretary.

These three were arrested along with Dr Walid al-Bunni; Arabic literature teacher and literary critic Jabr al-Shoufi; journalist 'Ali al-'Abdullah; journalist and writer Fayez Sarah; Dr Yasser al-'Eit;, People’s Democratic Party member Muhammed Haji Darwish; geological engineer Marwan al-‘Ush; former independent member of parliament Riad Seif and artist Talal Abu Dan.

The DDDNC has called on the Syrian government to suspend the state of emergency in force since 1963. The coalition has also urged the authorities to release all political prisoners; to allow the safe return of Syrian exiles; to abolish Law 49, which makes membership of the Muslim Brotherhood punishable by death; and to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Observing Guantánamo's military commission hearings

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:20:21 +0100

On 21 July 2008, the first trial to take place before a military commission convened under the Military Commissions Act of 2006 opened at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Matthew Pollard, Amnesty International's legal advisor, was present to observe the proceedings.

In the first part of a two-part series, he gives a sense of what it was like there and the importance of independent observers attending such proceedings.

Amnesty International has always been denied access to the detainees held at Guantánamo. Does the organization’s access for the purpose of trial observation offer it any glimpses of the detention facility?

The total area occupied by the United States at Guantánamo Bay is quite large, some 116 square kilometres, with a wide variety of functions. The camps where detainees are held are only a small part of the larger base. As NGO observers, we are not permitted to go anywhere near the detention facilities, or any significant military installations.

In short, coming to Guantánamo Bay to observe the military commissions, except to the extent that conditions of detention become an issue during the trial proceedings, does not add to what we already know about conditions from released detainees, lawyers representing detainees, and the authorities themselves.

How easy is it to communicate with the outside world as an observer there?

We pay a weekly fee for wireless internet access, which we are able to use from within the tents. There is also a tent with telephones that can be used with long distance calling cards that function just like the ones you would buy anywhere else. Civilian mobile phones do not, so far as I am aware, work on the network at the base, though some European phones apparently pick up a signal from Cuban networks on the other side of the fence separating the base from the rest of the island.

As we can’t take anything electronic into the area where hearings take place, and don’t leave that area during the day except for lunch, we generally only get a real opportunity to telephone or email in the evening.

Are you free to move around?

If we want to leave the area immediately around our tents, as NGO observers, we must always travel in a group and always be accompanied by one of the several "minders" assigned to us by the military here. They are members of the military, and one of the three minders must always be with us, 24 hours a day.

During the day, they generally must accompany us in uniform. Even with the minders, there are many places we cannot go. Understandably, there are additional security checks and restrictions when we enter the area where the hearings are actually held. And, as mentioned earlier, we are not allowed to go anywhere near the detention facilities.

Where do you stay?

We spend most of our time in an area called "Camp Justice" – an ironic name if ever there was one – which consists primarily of ordinary semi-permanent air-conditioned military tents, each with six beds, where we sleep and work (and where I am writing this now) as well as a fridge, microwave and so on; tents containing shower, toilet, and laundry facilities; and a media centre located in a hangar where we can observe (but not ask questions at) press conferences, and talk to the media nearby.

From here, we are not far from the buildings where the trials take place, but need to pass through lots of security and be escorted by our military minder to go there.

The other areas we are allowed to see do not look too different from a small town anywhere in the United States – after all the base as a whole is essentially a community for the people who work here – so there are familiar chain restaurants, pubs, recreational facilities, residential neighbourhoods, an outdoor cinema, parks, several small shops and at least one supermarket, and so on.

How do you get there?

The military offers space on some of its flights from Florida to journalists and NGOs. However, the frequency of those flights is limited. Several private companies also offer commercial flights to Guantánamo Bay. Everyone requires permission from the Department of Defense.

The commercial flights to Guantánamo Bay won’t permit anyone who doesn’t have the necessary documents to board the plane. They leave from Fort Lauderdale airport, just north of Miami, Florida. The flight I took was an older small plane, capable of carrying about 8 passengers.

These flights may include military and civilian personnel who work at the base, lawyers, and NGOs. The flight generally takes between three and four hours, partly due to the fact that the plane cannot enter Cuban airspace and so must take a longer route than would otherwise be necessary.

Can you describe a 'typical day' for us?

On a day where a court hearing will take place, we generally get up around 7am, shower and have a coffee and cereal bar in the tent, and are collected by our minder at around 8. We go through the security procedures to the building where the hearings are conducted, usually beginning at 8:30.

Hearings are scheduled to continue until 5pm, with several short breaks and a longer break for lunch, though they often sit later into the evening in order to finish with a witness (so that the length of time he or she is on the island can be minimized). Our minders have to sit with us in the hearings. Sometimes the hearings end early or may not happen at all.

After the hearing is finished, there is normally a press conference in the media centre, where the Chief Defence Counsel and Chief Prosecutor, or their designates, answer questions from the media. NGOs are not allowed to ask questions at the press briefings, though we are able to sit and observe.

Once the press briefing is finished, often around 7:30 or 8pm, we may speak with the print or television media outside the briefing room for anywhere from a few minutes to an hour.

After that, we normally return to the tents and change into more comfortable clothing, and then go to a restaurant for dinner. Again, our minder must accompany us. Finally, we return to our tents to write reports back to our offices and then finally get to bed sometime between 11:30 pm and 1 or 2 in the morning.

How many others are with you?

As I mentioned, the NGO observers generally must always travel as a group. During my time here, I have been with three observers from other organisations. There are also journalists who we see at the hearings and press conferences and from time to time run into elsewhere on the base – their numbers vary.

Sometimes there are only one or two in the room where the hearings take place (though more may be watching via CCTV from the media centre) and only a handful on the island at all – at other times larger crowds of journalists may stay for only a day or two around a significant event.

Why do they allow observers?

You would need to ask the US authorities for a definitive answer, but my understanding is that they believe that allowing observers demonstrates their confidence in the fairness of the procedures. Of course, we do not agree that the procedures are lawful or fair, but being there helps us to document further our concerns.

Are there any key absences? Do you know of any people denied access?

I don’t know if any person or organization who has sought to observe the trials has actually been denied access. Access for witnesses may be a different question, however. At the time of my writing, some problems were anticipated with regard to access to the hearings for certain witnesses the defence counsel wished to call.

For instance, in the trial I am observing, the accused is alleged to have entered into a conspiracy that included high-level al-Qa’ida officials, some of whom are currently being detained in highly restrictive conditions as so-called “high value detainees”.

Normally when these detainees appear in their own proceedings, the observers sit in a sound-proof box and a lengthy time delay is added to what they hear such that audio can be cut if the military judge or national security officer deems it necessary. At the time I left, it remained unclear whether these detainees would be allowed to testify as witnesses in the trial I was observing.

There have also been indications that some other witnesses the defence consider necessary for the defendant’s case, who live in other countries, might not be allowed access to the base, and again, at the time of writing, it is not known whether these people would give testimony by video link or otherwise.

Japan must respect rights of detained Greenpeace activists

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:47:49 +0100

Amnesty International has expressed its deep concern to the prime minister of Japan about the detention of two Greenpeace activists, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, who have been charged with theft and trespass.

Amnesty International said: “These two must be allowed to challenge their detention before an independent and impartial court in proceedings which meet international standards of fairness.

“It is imperative that their rights to freedom from arbitrary deprivation of their liberty are fully respected, in accordance with international human rights treaties to which Japan is a state party.

“We also ask that an independent, impartial and thorough investigation is begun into their arrests and that the findings of the investigation be made public.”

Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki were arrested on 20 June; they were initially detained by Japanese prosecutors for 13 days on suspicion of trespass and theft. Their detention without charge or trial was extended by ten days. On 11 July, as the maximum period for their continued pre-charge detention was due to expire, they were charged with theft and trespass.

Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki are cooperating fully with the police and prosecution. They have provided written depositions to the public prosecutor, and voluntarily and proactively submitted relevant evidence. They acted with a view to raising public awareness around the Japanese government-sponsored Southern Ocean whaling programme, rather than for illegitimate personal gain, while working for a well-respected international organization.

“We are also concerned that their detention, the charges against them, and the police raids on Greenpeace’s office and the homes of five of its staff are aimed at intimidating both activists and non-governmental organizations.

“We ask the Japanese prime minister to make a clear statement assuring human rights defenders, including environmental activists such as Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki and organizations such as Greenpeace, that their right to engage in peaceful activities without intimidation or harassment will be respected by the state, including the justice system."

Video: Murat Kurnaz, former detainee at Guantánamo and Afghanistan

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:55:34 +0100

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Murat Kurnaz was arrested in Pakistan in November 2001, and then held in US custody in Afghanistan and Guantánamo.

He was detained without charge or trial for nearly five years.

Released in August 2006, he is now back home in Bremen, Germany.

No hiding place for torture

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:41:52 +0100

Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to be free from torture and other ill-treatment. 60 years after it was adopted unanimously at the United Nations, Amnesty International documented torture in at least 81 countries.

The organization has documented torture for decades, but governments’ actions in recent years have challenged the validity of the prohibition itself, particularly in the context of counter terrorism.

This month, Amnesty International will seek to reverse this trend. In partnership with the Global Elders, the organization will call on governments to condemn and prevent torture and other ill-treatment and hold to account those responsible.

No justification for torture

Government responses to the attacks of 11 September 2001, and attacks in other countries since then, have amounted to a serious assault on the framework of human rights. They have not only used torture, they have sought to justify it in the name of security.

Detainees have been subjected to secret detention, enforced disappearance and indefinite detention without charge or trial. They have been transferred from one state to another without due process and have been sent to countries where they have faced torture. Such practices and lack of accountability have facilitated the spread and acceptance of torture.

Counter Terror with Justice

Torture is a crime that cannot be justified under any circumstances. Governments must bring to justice those responsible for authorising and inflicting it. The conditions which allow it to flourish, particularly illegal detention, must be brought to an end.

Governments have a duty to protect their population from violent attacks, but real security can only be achieved through justice and the promotion of human rights.

What you can do:

Amnesty International will organize actions on and around 26 June, International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Contact your local office and get involved;
Take action now to end illegal US detentions;
Stay informed by signing up to our e-newsletter and visiting our activism blog.

Parliamentarians meet US authorities over illegal detentions

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:49:40 +0100

International parliamentarians are meeting with US government officials from 14-16 May 2008 to discuss Amnesty International's framework to end illegal US detentions.

Sir Menzies Campbell, Member of the UK Parliament, and Christophe Strasser, Member of the German Bundestag, will represent the 1,236 parliamentarians from 30 countries that have already joined the call to US authorities to end illegal detention at Guantánamo and elsewhere, in accordance with Amnesty International's framework.

Sir Menzies Campbell and Christophe Strasser will meet with officials from the US Department of State, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Office of Senator McCain and the US Navy, among others.

Replica Guantánamo cell touring the US

Since 8 May, a replica of a maximum security cell at Guantánamo has been touring the US. The tour, organized by Amnesty International, is a way to enable people to get a glimpse of the harsh realities of illegal detention and prolonged isolation.

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, ex-UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and a representative of the Global Elders, visited the cell in Miami on 10 May and spoke to Amnesty International activists who had gathered for a concert and rally.

Getting a glimpse of Guantánamo

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:46:52 +0100

Amnesty International is bringing a life-size model of a maximum security cell at Guantánamo to cities across the USA. The tour is a way to enable people in the United States to get a glimpse of the harsh realities of illegal detention and prolonged isolation.

Most of the detainees at Guantánamo are held in isolation, many of them with virtually no access to natural light or contact with other human beings, for up to 24 hours a day. Compounding their suffering is the fact that they have no indication of when or if they will be freed from Guantánamo.

Most are detained without charge. Those who have been charged face unfair trials by military commission. Some may face execution.

Starting in Miami on 8 May, the tour will make a stop in Washington D.C. on 26 June, to mark International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

Visitors to the cell are encouraged to enter and to experience the conditions of isolation and then share their experience in a video message. Watch a panoramic photo from inside the model cell to get an idea. And before leaving, they can also take action to end illegal US detentions at Guantánamo and elsewhere.

Follow the cell as it travels across the USA:

Take action now:

Nigeria’s prison system fails its people

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:23:19 +0000

In Nigeria, sixty five percent of prison inmates have never been convicted of any crime, with some awaiting trial for up to ten years.

A new Amnesty International report has condemned Nigeria’s criminal justice system, saying that the country’s prisons are filled with people whose human rights are being systematically violated. Torture by police is said to be widespread, with “confessions” extracted by torture often used as evidence in trials.

The report also reveals how people with mental illness, not suspected of committing any crime, are imprisoned alongside convicted criminals because their families are unable or unwilling to take care of them.

Amnesty International also highlighted the plight of prison staff, who work long and stressful hours for low wages that are often paid late. Staff shortages create security risks for both staff and inmates.

“The problems in Nigerian’s criminal justice system are so blatant and egregious that the Nigerian government has had no choice but to recognize them – and has pledged many times that it will reform the system,” said Aster van Kregten, speaking at a press conference in Abuja.

“However, the reality is that those in prison stand little chance of their rights being respected. Those without money stand even less chance. Some could end up spending the rest of their lives behind bars in appalling conditions without ever having been convicted of a crime – sometimes simply due to their case files having been lost by the police.

“Many inmates awaiting trial are effectively presumed guilty – despite the fact that there is little evidence of their involvement in the crime of which they are accused.”

The Nigerian government has, on numerous occasions, stated its willingness to reform the criminal justice system, acknowledging its role in creating a situation of prolonged detention and overcrowding.

Despite many presidential commissions and committees recommending reform, the recommendations have not been implemented. Instead, the government has set up new committees and commissions to study, review and harmonize the previous recommendations.

Most people in Nigerian prisons are too poor to afford a lawyer and the Legal Aid Council only has 91 lawyers in the whole country to provide legal representation. The result is that only one in seven awaiting trial inmates has access to legal representation.

Appalling prison conditions, including severe overcrowding, are also seriously damaging the mental and physical health of thousands.

In one case, Bassy, a 35-year-old woman with mental illness, was brought to prison by her brother, who said the family could no longer cope with her. Prison authorities classified Bassy as a “civil lunatic.” Accused of no crime and never brought before a judge, Bassy spent almost three years in prison, sleeping on the floor in a cell with 11 women.

After the intervention of PRAWA, a Nigerian non-governmental organization dealing with the incarceration of mentally ill prisoners, Bassy was finally transferred to a hospital, where she is now receiving treatment.

“The Nigerian government is simply not complying with its national and international obligations when it comes to the criminal justice system in Nigeria and must begin to do so seriously and urgently,” said van Kregten. “The conditions we saw and the stories we heard from inmates are a national scandal.”

Police ill-treatment plagues Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:18:06 +0000

Police and prison guards in Bosnia and Herzegovina ill-treat prisoners with almost total impunity, according to a new Amnesty International report.

Prisoner interviews conducted by Amnesty International have exposed a culture of impunity and intimidation that keeps information about ill-treatment penned inside the walls of police stations and prisons.

"The authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are failing to prevent ill-treatment. Beatings often go unreported and uninvestigated as victims are afraid of reprisals, while complaints are not acted upon," said David Diaz-Jogeix, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia programme.

Amnesty International has urged the authorities to send a clear message that ill-treatment in prisons and by police officers will not be tolerated.

The cycle of ill-treatment may start at the time of arrest and continue in the police station and, after sentencing, in prison. Amnesty International delegates spoke to inmates in detention facilities, including police stations and prisons, during a visit to the country in June 2007.

One man arrested in Prijedor in Republika Srpska (one of the two entities comprising Bosnia and Herzegovina) revealed: "I was arrested, they brought me to the police station... They began with slaps and then they started beating me."

A video from October 2006 showed a man in uniform, thought to be a member of the Sarajevo Canton Police, repeatedly kicking and hitting a young man near what appears to be a police car. The victim was forced to strip naked while the beating continued and was later left unconscious in the street.

In jail, prison guards were reported to have beaten prisoners in isolation cells with truncheons. Yet no prison guards suspected of ill-treatment have been charged in recent years.

There is no effective system to address police misconduct and the police force is seemingly unable - or unwilling - to police itself. Prosecutors are also to blame. The law states they should initiate a criminal investigation whenever they suspect police ill-treatment, but this rarely happens.

"Ongoing discussion about police reform must address the problem of lack of police accountability and its human rights consequences. An effective prison oversight system also needs to be established" David Diaz-Jogeix said.

“The authorities must ensure that prosecutors initiate a prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigation whenever there are grounds to suspect an act of torture or other ill-treatment”.

Video: Moazzam Begg read Poems from Guantánamo

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:56:05 +0000

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Moazzam Begg, former detainee, reads his own poem Homeward Bound, written in Guantánamo.

Moazzam Begg, a British citizen, was held for 11 months in US custody at Bagram air base in Afghanistan, followed by three years in Guantánamo before his release in January 2005. He has recently published a memoir of his experience: Enemy Combatant: My Imprisonment at Guantanamo, Bagram and Kandahar.