The 5 worst prisons in the world: a chilling list!

You know that kind of tour that promises to give you goosebumps? This is one of them! Come and see the 5 worst prisons in the world!

We can all agree that one of the worst places to be is in prison, right? 

Even though some of them – located in more developed countries and considered first world countries – have infrastructures that look more like hotels, being imprisoned in a certain place and being deprived of your freedom must be one of the worst things that exist.

In addition to the deprivation of the right to come and go for a certain period of time that prisoners face, living with people who have committed the most diverse crimes – from the most minor to the most heinous and frightening – helps to add a load of tension to the days of those who are in prison.

And do you know when things can get even worse? When the structure of the prison in question does not contribute at all, making the prisoners' lives a living hell.

And if you are even remotely familiar with the different types of prison systems that exist around the world, you know that most of these prisons are true hells.

It was with this theme in mind that we came up with the idea of creating today’s content!

Today, our tour is going to be a little scarier than usual! We're going to take you to see the 5 worst prisons in the world! A list that will give anyone the creeps!

There are prison facilities in various places around the world that, for various reasons, are almost impossible to handle, resulting in a list of the 5 worst prisons in the world!

Let's go?

Discover the 5 worst prisons in the world

Overcrowding, gang violence, police abuse, psychological torture, appalling conditions, food and drink shortages… these are just some of the reasons that make up some of the worst prison facilities out there.

Below, we list the 5 worst prisons in the world for you to discover and be scared of!

Camp 22, North Korea – One of the 5 Worst and Most Mysterious Prisons in the World

As you may already know, North Korea is one of the most mysterious countries in the world. Due to its political isolation, little is known about the daily lives and habits of its inhabitants.

But what is known about Camp 22 – a political prison in the country – is chilling.

With space for around 50 thousand people, the facility has been operating since 1965 and, during that time, has accumulated several stories and reports that are enough to keep you up at night.

One of them says that the descendants of the criminals imprisoned there were also imprisoned with the intention of making the family line of that criminal disappear.

Another story about the prison is that inmates are subjected to medical experiments and chemical and biological weapons testing.

Gitarama Prison, Rwanda

Imagine living in a space designed to accommodate 600 people but instead housing 6,000 people. 10x more crowded than it should be.

This is the reality of Gitarama Prison in Rwanda.

In this prison, prisoners are grouped together almost like animals in the confined space. 

And this overcrowding makes risks such as violence and even the spread of diseases even greater than in most other prisons in the world.

Penal Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador

You don't need to be a prison expert to know that the presence of gangs is constant in these places.

And the Ciudad Barrios Penalty is an example of the danger of these gangs. Here, the environment is divided between two rival and extremely dangerous gangs: MS 13 and Barrio 18.

In other words: episodes of violence between these gangs are normal, resulting in the death of prisoners and even guards who work in the prison.

Diyarbakir Prison, Türkiye

A place with a history ranging from torture to children being held in slave labor for their entire lives.

Diyarbakir prison is known for its dark past. In addition to the barbarities already mentioned, reports from the prison also involve actions such as physical and psychological abuse, torture and even rape and death.

Tadmor Prison, Syria

Another prison on the list marked by various types of abuse and torture is Tadmor, in Syria. 

Numerous reports from those who have been to this prison indicate that prisoners were tortured in a variety of ways. Some of the most chilling fates include being dragged to death or being cut into pieces with an axe.

Another negative milestone in the prison's history was a massacre carried out in 1980, which resulted in the death of around 1,000 prisoners.

Bonus: Carandiru Penitentiary, Sao Paulo, Brazil

It would be impossible to create content about the worst prisons in the world without mentioning one of the most famous penitentiaries in Brazil.

Although we have already listed the 5 most dangerous prisons in the world – and the penitentiary itself has already been demolished – the Carandiru Penitentiary could not be left out of our list, as it was the scene of one of the biggest massacres in the history of Brazil.

In it, more than 100 prisoners were killed in a massacre carried out by the Military Police during a rebellion in 1992.

Discover other prison facilities that go beyond the 5 worst prisons in the world

If you enjoyed this tour of the 5 worst prisons in the world and want to know more about the subject, we have one more tip for you!

Still on this topic, Netflix has a production in its content catalog that promises to be a great option for those who are curious to know a little more about the worst prisons around the world.

Titled Inside the World's Toughest Prisons, the series promises to keep you hooked – pardon the pun – from beginning to end!

The format of the production is as follows: in it, we follow several investigative journalists who, in order to explore the routine of a prison to the fullest, become voluntary inmates in some of the most dangerous prisons in the world.

The series – which already has 5 seasons and is about to get a 6th season – takes place in prisons in countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Romania, Greenland, Costa Rica, Germany and even here in Brazil.

Through the reports of these journalists, it is possible to gain a little more insight into issues such as the intimidation present in these environments, the formation of gangs within prisons and better understand the origin of prison violence, a very common factor in prisons around the world!

Check out the series trailer:

[LINK]

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