Penal Forum counts 1,916 political prisoners in Venezuela

The NGO Foro Penal counted 1,916 political prisoners in Venezuela until October 7. The organization noted that of the total, 1,784 were arrested after July 29, the day after the presidential elections in Venezuela, in which the National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed Nicolás Maduro president-elect and the opposition denounced fraud.

According to details spread on social networks, 1,676 prisoners are men and 240 women. In addition, there are 1,757 civilians in the group and 159 military personnel.

The Penal Forum specified that 1,846 are adults and 70 adolescents between 14 and 17 years of age. To date, 148 people have been convicted.

Penal Forum: This is the largest number of prisoners in Venezuela

The NGO noted that This is the largest record of prisoners for political reasons known in Venezuelaat least in the 21st century. «We continue to receive and register detainees«, indicates Penal Forum.

Since 2014, the first year of Nicolás Maduro’s government after the death of Hugo Chávez, 17,828 arrests for political reasons have been registered in Venezuela. The number of people 𝗶𝗱𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘀: 𝗺á𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟰.𝟬𝟬𝟬. And people still arbitrarily subject to measures restricting their freedom: more than 9,000.

The list was sent to the Organization of American States for verification and certification.

International organizations have demanded the freedom of all political prisoners, as they defend the right to protest and freedom of expression. However, a wave of persecution was unleashed in the country against those who expressed ideals contrary to Chavismo.

Those who are imprisoned face violations of their human rights due to the conditions they are in or the treatment they receive from security officials.