Reports have surfaced claiming that inmates within a harsh Venezuelan prison face brutal treatment including being hung up, beaten, sexually assaulted, and subjected to degrading acts involving excrement. The El Helicoide prison in Caracas, originally designed as a spiral-shaped shopping center, underwent a transformation under the leadership of the current president, Nicolás Maduro, turning into what is described as a massive torture facility.
Originally constructed in the 1950s with plans to be the world’s first drive-thru shopping mall, El Helicoide now has a reputation as a place of extreme suffering, where prisoners endure various forms of torture, such as the “Russian” or “white torture”, involving solitary confinement in a small, windowless cell painted entirely in white with constant bright lighting, leading to severe psychological distress.
According to The Telegraph, inmates in this facility wake up to find their fellow prisoners bloodied and unconscious, indicating the extreme violence and abuse they endure. Former inmate and Venezuelan opposition politician, Rosmit Mantilla, has alleged instances of electrocution and sexual assault using rifles within the prison.
Mantilla described the horrific conditions within El Helicoide, mentioning that prisoners were subjected to inhumane treatment, including having bags placed over their heads, sometimes containing excrement, before being physically assaulted by guards. He also highlighted the cramped and unbearable living conditions in cells with poor ventilation and constant bright lighting, where inmates were forced to urinate in the same space where they kept their food due to severe overcrowding.
Despite the Venezuelan government repurposing the El Helicoide building for various agencies, including the nation’s intelligence service, SEBIN, the recent military intervention in Venezuela led by the US, under President Donald Trump’s administration, has sparked hope for the families of inmates. President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, announced plans for the release of some prisoners following the military action, claiming that 116 individuals have already been freed, although human rights groups contest this number, stating that only 56 have been released.
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