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Feb 2, 2023 | Law, Society
Inmates at a prison in Poland have faced physical and mental torture
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the claims
while they are also investigating the issue
they have doubts about the “objectivity” of the report
which concerns Barczewo prison in northeastern Poland
Zastraszanie, przemoc fizyczna i słowna, waterboarding, pobicia do utraty przytomności – to niektóre z nieprawidłowości, do jakich miało dojść w ZK w Barczewie. Wizytację przeprowadzili pracownicy działającego w BRPO Krajowego Mechanizmu Prewencji Tortur #KMPT.1/4 pic.twitter.com/1bHXRQx8TV
— Biuro Rzecznika Praw Obywatelskich (@BiuroRPO) January 31, 2023
The report, published on Tuesday by the office of Poland’s commission for human rights
was written by the National Torture Prevention Mechanism (KMPT)
which operates within the commissioner’s office
It followed visits by KMPT staff to the prison
during which they interviewed managers and inmates
as well as conducting their own monitoring and review of prison documents
KMPT alleges that inmates were dragged out of their cells and brought to unmonitored rooms
prison officers reportedly placed black bags over prisoners’ heads
The report also mentions an instance in which one detainee allegedly went into cardiac arrest as a result of a beating
“An ambulance was not called; officers resuscitated the inmate on their own
eventually restoring his vitals,” it reads
While KMPT’s findings were based in large part on inmates’ own accounts
video “footage shows the man being brought to the cell and removing his wet clothing”
Więzień został zmuszony do położenia się na podłodze. Strażnicy mieli założyć mu na twarz ręcznik i polewać wodą z miski. Kolejnego podduszali https://t.co/ycyOTMDjjW
— Bartosz T. Wieliński 🇵🇱🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@Bart_Wielinski) February 1, 2023
In response to the publication of the report
both public prosecutors and the Central Board of the Prison Service (CZSW) have launched investigations
“All the circumstances are currently under investigation
all of which will be verified,” Daniel Brodowski
spokesman for the regional prosecutor’s office in Olsztyn
spokeswoman for the regional director of the prison service in Olsztyn told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that immediately after receiving the report
the director general of the prison service also ordered an inspection of the penitentiary
“It is a matter of ensuring the safety of inmates and prison service officers
despite the frequent practice among inmates of reporting untrue incidents
every such case is clarified,” she said
“Serious irregularities” in prison programme, finds Supreme Audit Office
Socha also informed PAP of certain doubts that both the justice ministry – which has authority over prisons – and CZSW have concerning KMPT’s findings
“In the opinion of the justice ministry and CZSW
the circumstances of the incident indicate a possible defect in the report consisting in the lack of objectivity of the author of the study
who entered into a dispute with the management of the inspected prison,” she said
an alleged incident occurred relating to the “inappropriate behaviour of an inspector” in connection with the “destruction of property” by “urinating in a room not intended for this purpose”
said that the KMPT’s inspector had been forced to remain in a room with prisoners after guards did not respond to his request to be let out
Funkcjonariusze Zakładu Karnego w Barczewie nie pozwolili kontrolerowi z Krajowego Mechanizmu Prewencji Tortur iść do toalety, przez co musiał oddać mocz na terenie oddziału dla niebezpiecznych osadzonych.Polska, 2023. https://t.co/I9XId9jKfn
— Patryk Słowik (@PatrykSlowik) February 2, 2023
Main image credit: TOMASZ WASZCZUK / AGENCJA GAZETA
Anna Hackett is an assistant editor at Notes from Poland
She is a recent graduate of European Studies from Trinity College Dublin and has had previous journalistic experience with the Irish Independent News & Media group
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