In recent months, some republican prisoners being transferred to court from gaol in Northern Ireland have been complaining about the way in which they have been searched on leaving and reentering HMP Maghaberry.

Whilst this is perhaps not the best way of searching them, and I understand that a new method of searching is being introduced, they should be glad that in Northern Ireland we do not act like the prison guards in Singapore.

In Singapore it seems that

they put you in these orange overalls and they handcuff you at the back, they cuff your ankles, and then they had a chain connecting your handcuffs and your ankle cuffs,
from The Online Citizen, Face to Face with Seelan Palay (Part One)

Seelan Palay is not alone… Mr Gandhi Ambalam and Dr Chee Soon Juan were brought to court who were brought to court for the crime of ‘handing out leaflets’, were similarly shackled. It was pointed out in their court hearing that

Instruments of restraint, such as handcuffs, chains, irons and strait-jackets, shall never be applied as a punishment. Furthermore, chains or irons shall not be used as restraints. Other instruments of restraint shall not be used except in the following circumstances:

( a ) As a precaution against escape during a transfer, provided that they shall be removed when the prisoner appears before a judicial or administrative authority;

( b ) On medical grounds by direction of the medical officer;

( c ) By order of the director, if other methods of control fail, in order to prevent a prisoner from injuring himself or others or from damaging property; in such instances the director shall at once consult the medical officer and report to the higher administrative authority.

from the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, Instruments of Restraint, Article 33.

Let’s make sure that prisoners around the world are treated with respect.