Conditions in Venezuelan Prison Include Abuse and Neglect

In Caracas, El Helicoide, a notorious prison and secret police headquarters, has been the site of severe torture, with former inmates detailing horrific experiences of abuse, including rape and extreme isolation. Following the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, many political prisoners have been released, prompting calls for the prison’s closure. The facility, originally intended as a shopping complex, has been repurposed since the 1970s to detain political dissidents, with 18,000 arrests under Maduro’s regime. Advocacy for the release of prisoners continues amid reports of inhumane conditions inside.

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