The Inhumane Conditions of Bradley Manning’s Detention

December 15th, 2010

Via: Salon:

From the beginning of his detention, Manning has been held in intensive solitary confinement. For 23 out of 24 hours every day — for seven straight months and counting — he sits completely alone in his cell. Even inside his cell, his activities are heavily restricted; he’s barred even from exercising and is under constant surveillance to enforce those restrictions. For reasons that appear completely punitive, he’s being denied many of the most basic attributes of civilized imprisonment, including even a pillow or sheets for his bed (he is not and never has been on suicide watch). For the one hour per day when he is freed from this isolation, he is barred from accessing any news or current events programs. Lt. Villiard protested that the conditions are not “like jail movies where someone gets thrown into the hole,” but confirmed that he is in solitary confinement, entirely alone in his cell except for the one hour per day he is taken out.

In sum, Manning has been subjected for many months without pause to inhumane, personality-erasing, soul-destroying, insanity-inducing conditions of isolation similar to those perfected at America’s Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado: all without so much as having been convicted of anything. And as is true of many prisoners subjected to warped treatment of this sort, the brig’s medical personnel now administer regular doses of anti-depressants to Manning to prevent his brain from snapping from the effects of this isolation.

5 Responses to “The Inhumane Conditions of Bradley Manning’s Detention”

  1. ltcolonelnemo says:

    How the hell do they keep him from exercising for the 23 out of the 24 hours that he is in solitary confinement? Does this mean he can’t do push-ups or sit-ups? Does someone come in with a club every time he tries to do yoga? How do they enforce this provision of his captivity?

  2. tochigi says:

    yeah, i read this article last night. it is highly recommended and worth reading. the USAian Gulag: we do it here, we do it there, we do it everywhere! (and no one cares!!!)

  3. jakdmsy says:

    I’ve got flashbacks to the end of “Human Resources”

  4. Eileen says:

    This article made me sick to my stomach. After watching Max Igan’s latest videos and reading this article, I wish I had run away from this place a LONG time ago. Prayer’s for Jeffrey Manning. This is wrong. So wrong!

  5. Eileen says:

    sorry. Here’s the link to the Max Igan website. Part 1 of 4. Soothing voice. Bad news.
    Can’t believe I’ve been so stupid.
    http://www.youtube.com/user/aodscarecrow

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