Families Decry Prison Conditions in Bouches-du-Rhône Following Attacks

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The families⁤ of inmates ⁤at several penal institutions⁢ in the Bouches-du-Rhône region are voicing concerns over what they describe as inhumane prison conditions, following a series of attacks that occurred between April 14 ⁤and ⁣April 16.

The outcry comes in the wake of coordinated incidents targeting prisons, prompting families to speak out about overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and alleged mistreatment.

“They treat them like dogs,” said one mother, whose son is incarcerated at Baumettes Prison in Marseille’s 9th arrondissement. Speaking to BFM⁤ Marseille Provence,she⁤ described the conditions as “shameful,” adding,”Sometimes there are five of them in a cell,there⁤ are some who sleep on the ground,there are rotten mattresses.”

another woman, the sister of a detainee ⁣at a remand center, claimed her brother was being mistreated, emphasizing, “It looks like he is a human being.”

Alarm Sounded Over Prison Conditions

The unrest extended beyond verbal complaints. In Tarascon and luynes,vehicles where set⁣ ablaze. According ⁣to a judicial source speaking to BFMTV, the registrations “DDPF,” and⁢ “law of French prisoners” were found scrawled on several vehicles. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has⁢ characterized the coordinated attacks as “terrorist” acts.

While condemning the‍ violence, some relatives suggest the incidents highlight underlying issues within the prison system. “There are dysfunctions, if it has made it possible to develop things that is what it takes,” said the sister-in-law of an inmate. “Not in ⁢violence, of ‍course, there are other methods.”

Philippe ⁢Letienne, a criminal lawyer practicing in Aix-en-Provence, described a grim reality for many detainees, marked by self-harm, desperate acts such as swallowing blades, and hunger or thirst strikes. he characterized the situation as “a cry of alarm.”

Letienne stated that the despair among inmates is reaching a critical point, ⁤leading to actions that ⁤result in further punishment. “You have a despair that arrives at its climax (…) and after a while, they will take actions that will be sanctionators.” He concluded, “The‍ suffering endured by prison overcrowding has reached a dramatic level.”