Political imprisonment

Politically motivated arrests
Political prisoners

Nature

Individuals, whether military or civilian, with political or religious opinions considered undesirable by a government, or individuals engaged in activities considered undesirable, whether they express these violently or peacefully, may be interned without trial, or with a secret trial, or with a public trial distorted to suit propaganda purposes. Those who do dissent may be imprisoned, tortured, committed to hard labour or executed; or classified as insane, brainwashed and politically reindoctrinated. Their property may be confiscated and their characters defamed. Imprisonment may be without trial or following a show or secret trial. Evidence may be fabricated and confessions extorted with the use of torture. They may be deprived of nationality but be unable to obtain political asylum from another country. They may be sentenced to exile in an isolated part of the country, forced labour, life or long-term imprisonment, confinement among common criminals, confinement to a psychiatric prison-hospital and subsequent brainwashing or execution. The status and even the existence of a political prisoner may be denied. Families of political prisoners may suffer severe deprivation and ostracism; and political arrest may result from a defamation of character to the authorities by a rival for reasons of ambition, revenge or fear. Political imprisonment induces apathy, fear and alienation which may affect social and economic development. Alternatively, it may provoke resistance, often with foreign support and indirect pressure.

Background

Political imprisonment emerged as a recognized global concern in the early 20th century, notably with the rise of authoritarian regimes and the suppression of dissent. International awareness intensified after World War II, as organizations like Amnesty International documented cases and advocated for prisoners’ rights. The phenomenon’s significance grew with the Cold War, decolonization, and ongoing human rights campaigns, highlighting its persistence across diverse political systems and prompting sustained international scrutiny and advocacy.

Incidence

Many non-democratic and fundamentalist religious regimes will not permit ideological or political dissent. In 1984 Amnesty International reported that political prisoners are being held in the following countries:

[Africa]

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Rep, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome-Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

[America]

Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, USA, Uruguay

[Asia]

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kampuchea, Korea PDR, Korea Rep, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam, Yemen DR

[Europe]

Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, German DR, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, USSR, UK, Yugoslavia

Claim

Political imprisonment is a grave violation of human rights and a direct attack on freedom and democracy. Silencing dissent through unjust detention not only destroys lives but also erodes the very foundation of just societies. This practice breeds fear, stifles progress, and enables authoritarianism. The international community must urgently confront and condemn political imprisonment wherever it occurs, as ignoring it allows injustice and oppression to flourish unchecked. This is an urgent, global crisis demanding action.

Counter-claim

Political imprisonment is often exaggerated as a global issue. In reality, most governments act to maintain order and protect citizens, not to silence dissent. The number of political prisoners is minimal compared to the overall population, and their cases rarely impact the daily lives of ordinary people. Focusing on political imprisonment distracts from more pressing concerns like poverty, healthcare, and education, which affect far more individuals and deserve greater attention.