Before the Arab Spring uprising swept through Libya, thousands of political prisoners had for many years been held in Moammar Gaddafi's prisons. Here, the halls and cells of the notorious maximum security Abu Salim prison are open for all to see.
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As the site of the terrible 1966 massacre of some 1,200 prisoners who had protested over living conditions, the symbolism of the liberation of Abu Salim prison during the uprising was particularly powerful. Indeed, it was the arrest of Fathi Terbil, a lawyer representing the families of Abu Salim’s victims that had helped spark the revolt in Libya in February 2011.
Ten days after the uprising began, thousands of people arrested after demonstrations in Tripoli were packed into Abu Salim. With the wing reserved for political prisoners full, new arrivals were housed in the military wing. Arrested on suspicion of being rebels, they were made to sign a statement blindfolded – if they refused, they were tortured: tied up, hung from an overhead metal bar and beaten. (All images: Peter Püntener)
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“Torture persists and is making a comeback”
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During the Argentine military dictatorship of the late 1970s and early 1980s Méndez was arrested and subjected to 18 months of torture by the ruling military junta. He was released under pressure from Amnesty International, which secured his expatriation to the United States. swissinfo.ch: How do you view the situation in Syria? Juan E. Méndez:…
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Patients suffer from anxiety, sleeplessness and pain. It usually takes a long time before they can talk about the cruelty they have experienced. They often feel guilt, shame and humiliation about the torture. Angelika Louis heads the outpatient clinic in Bern, set up by the Swiss Red Cross in 1995. Louis and her team of…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.