For approximately four months now, muslims in Macomer prison, Italy, have been subjected to some truly sickening abuses. Unfortunately as the months drive on, so too does the oppression that they suffer.

Over 15 letters have been received from that prison, identifying torture ( and one should not use that term lightly ) of unprecedented scales within Europe for the past 30 years. This is made all the worse through the lack of media attention regarding these detainees, which has led to them issuing a “cry of desperation” from Macomer, which everyone can read on the helptheprisoners.org website.

In the letter and other sources, it is identified that the prison authorities there are :-

1. Witholding medical treatment

Some brothers have asthma, and are being refused medical treatment. On one occasion a brother suffered a severe asthma attack whilst being left in a cell with no ventilation. One other brother was left with a fractured wrist untreated for many hours, leaving him writhing in agony. Others have skin allergies who again have not had treatment for months.

2. Engaging in Physical Abuse

One brother was beaten severely upon arrival. On another occasion another was beaten. One other brother had his hand jammed into a door, and the guards laughed without removing his hand from the door for over 20 minutes.

3. Engaging in Mental Abuse

There is a general climate of fear at the prison, with the guards regularly being abusive, shouting, and attempting to unsettle the prisoners at every opportunity. Their Qu’rans are often thrown on the floor whilst the guards laugh, loud noises are made when prisoners call the adhan from their cells, and the muslim religion is insulted on a daily basis by the officers.

All the above is to say nothing of the general day to day conditions that they are experiencing. The prisoners are held in isolation away from other prisoners. They are kept in their cells nearly 23 hours a day in some cases, with no group exercise or association permitted.

Italy of course is a signatory to both the relevant United Nations protocols as well as a full member of the European Union. These bodies place the following obligations upon its signatories and members :-

“For the purposes of this Convention, torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity”

- UN Convention Against Torture, Article One

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

- European Convention on Human Rights, Article 3

We call on Italy and the authorities at Macomer to fulfil their obligations under the law.

Actions Required

Please write to the Interior Ministry and the Justice Ministry to raise awareness of the treatment of prisoners at Macomer by the authorities there.

Please write to your MEP advising them of Italys breaches of European law.

Key Contacts

Ministero dell?Interno
Palazzo Viminale
Via Agostino Depretis, 7
00184 Roma, ITALY

E mail:  segreteriaparticolare.ministro@interno.it

Ministero della Giustizia

Palazzo Piacentini
Via Arenula, 70
00186 Roma, ITALY
Fax:+39-06-68897951

E-mail:  segreteria.ministro@giustizia.it

Sample Letter

Dear ,

I am writing to you concerning the treatment of muslims at Macomer Prison, Sardinia who continue suffer physical and mental abuse from the authorities there. To cite some examples :-

1. Witholding medical treatment

Some brothers have asthma, and are being refused medical treatment. On one occasion a brother suffered a severe asthma attack whilst being left in a cell with no ventilation. One other brother was left with a fractured wrist untreated for many hours, leaving him writhing in agony. Others have skin allergies who again have not had treatment for months.

2. Engaging in Physical Abuse

One brother was beaten severely upon arrival. On another occasion another was beaten. One other brother had his hand jammed into a door, and the guards laughed without removing his hand from the door for over 20 minutes.

3. Engaging in Mental Abuse

There is a general climate of fear at the prison, with the guards regularly being abusive, shouting, and attempting to unsettle the prisoners at every opportunity. Their Qu’rans are often thrown on the floor whilst the guards laugh, loud noises are made when prisoners call the adhan from their cells, and the muslim religion is insulted on a daily basis by the officers.

All of the above is just a sample of what has been reported, and it is saddening that for nearly four months now these abuses have gone on with no action being taken by the Italian authorities.

Italy of course is a signatory to both the relevant United Nations protocols as well as a full member of the European Union. These bodies place the following obligations upon its signatories and members :-

“For the purposes of this Convention, torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity”

- UN Convention Against Torture, Article One

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

- European Convention on Human Rights, Article 3

I trust you will now investigate these allegations and take action to punish the staff who are engaged in what can only described as physical and mental torture.

Regards,