A prisoner in the Ghent prison has been disciplined for refusing to accept an additional cellmate.
Lawyer Lennert Dierickx stated that the refusal was made politely, yet the man was immediately punished, losing his right to join the daily walk and receive visitors for three days.
The prisoner is in pre-trial detention for minor offences such as theft and attempted theft. Dierickx highlighted that overcrowding and “ground sleepers”—inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor—have been persistent issues. He remarked that punishing those who protest these conditions is a step too far.
The punishment was imposed through a swift process without a prior disciplinary hearing. According to Dierickx, appeals against such measures are often dismissed or not heard at all. He warned that this normalises violations of basic rights, such as having a bed.
He is considering further legal action but emphasises that many prisoners lack the resources or motivation to pursue lengthy procedures. The prison management’s response is often: “We have no choice,” a justification heard for two decades.
Kathleen Van De Vijver, spokesperson for the Prison Service, admitted Ghent faces significant overcrowding, a problem shared by many other Belgian prisons. The situation is challenging for both inmates and staff, who are asked out of necessity to temporarily accept extra cellmates due to a lack of space. Ghent prison currently houses 405 men and 55 women, with 36 prisoners sleeping on the floor as of yesterday.
