The Unknown Political Prisoners

November 15, 2010
From Take Part:

Political Prisoners

An estimated 2,250 people are in jail for political reasons in Burma alone

Around the world, thousands of people are imprisoned for their beliefs, race, gender, sexuality or for speaking out against their government. These political prisoners are human rights defenders, political figures, labor activists, artists, journalists, and average citizens, and often they are never even charged with a crime.

Some have become icons in their incarceration, such as South African President Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for demanding political change, and Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi, locked up or under house arrest for 14 of the past 20 years for dissent. But for every standout there are thousands of nameless others locked away around the world, from Iran to Cuba, Vietnam to Zimbabwe, and dozens more countries worldwide.