More than 200 adolescents and women remain detained for political reasons in the country in different prisons and police commands. In mid-November, some releases were recorded in “La Crisálida”, but the authorities have not confirmed the number or under what regime they will continue their legal process.
A group of women, gathered under the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, denounced the torture to which the detainees have been subjected before and after the presidential elections, and demanded their immediate release.
During the forum “Gender Violence and Women Deprived of Liberty”, within the framework of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, representatives of the Committee presented the situation suffered by the more than 200 adolescents and women who remain detained in the country for political reasons.
«We take this opportunity to make visible in these spaces that in Venezuela there are more than 200 women unjustly deprived of liberty whose rights have been violated and due process has not been guaranteed. They also do not have access to defense and, in addition, they have been violated and have committed all types of abuse and violence. This shows that the State violates women’s rights,” said Sairam Rivas, women’s rights activist.
#PoliticalPresses | Women demand the immediate release of all political prisoners in #Venezuelafrom the Forum “Gender Violence and Women Deprived of Liberty, held at the #UCVthis Tuesday #26Nov. There are more than 200 women unjustly imprisoned.#FreePoliticalPreys pic.twitter.com/AGlmPLnc9E
— Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners. (@clippve) November 26, 2024
Emirlendris Benítez’s sister, Melania Benítez, recalled the situation that the merchant is going through after being arrested in August 2018 for the alleged assassination attempt against Nicolás Maduro that year.
«My sister was missing for more than a month. After those days, when I was able to see her, I didn’t recognize her because I was very afraid. Beaten I couldn’t move my neck and we were surrounded by all the officials. We couldn’t talk well or hug each other. They tortured her. They pulled out his toenails and hit him against the wall. They put her in water chutes and threatened that they were going to kill her family if she didn’t record a video accusing herself,” Benítez said.
Emirlendris Benítez was four months pregnant at the time of her arrest and the violence to which she was subjected caused her to miscarry. She has also not received adequate medical care for the severe back pain that has left her in a wheelchair. He was one of the 17 people sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2022 and remains detained at the INOF Los Teques.
TESTIMONY | Melania Benítez, Sister of Emirlendris Benítez, narrates the arbitrary detention and torture suffered by her sister, today imprisoned in the #INOF. She was unjustly sentenced to 30 years in prison for political reasons. Emirlendris is in a wheelchair due to torture. pic.twitter.com/X42bxSAcjc
— Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners. (@clippve) November 26, 2024
More than 200 women remain detained for political reasons in both the INOF, the “La Crisálida” Center and police command headquarters. In mid-November, some releases were recorded in “La Crisálida”, but the authorities have not confirmed the number or under what regime they will continue their legal process.
The situation of Edward Ocariz, a human rights activist and resident of the Coche parish in Caracas, was also reported at the forum. His sister, Sol Ocariz, indicated that her visits to the Tocuyito prison were suspended by order of the Ministry of Penitentiary Service.
*Read also: They denounce the ban on visits to human rights activist Edward Ocariz in Tocuyito
Furthermore, the daughter of Aldo Rosso, a Voluntad Popular activist in the El Valle parish, insisted that medical attention be provided to her father, due to the pathologies he suffers from. The political leader was sent to trial for several crimes, including terrorism.
«We are not alone, I am not alone and the fight will continue. It will not be easy, but if we continue and advance with more strength, all the freedoms of political prisoners will be achieved,” he asserted.
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