"Asked for Masks..." Italian Prisoners Brutally Assaulted

Italian media 'Domani' exclusively obtained and released footage captured by CCTV inside Santa Maria Capua Vetere prison near Naples in southern Italy on the 29th of last month (local time).
[Photo by Domani capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] It has recently come to light that prison guards brutally assaulted inmates protesting inadequate COVID-19 prevention measures at a prison in Italy last year, causing a public outcry.

The local media outlet 'Domani' exclusively obtained and released CCTV footage from April 6 last year, filmed inside the Santa Maria Capua Vetere prison near Naples in southern Italy. The six-minute video shows prison guards wearing riot gear mercilessly beating defenseless inmates with batons during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The guards struck the head of an elderly inmate sitting on the floor with a baton, grabbed another inmate by the hair, and kneed him in the abdomen. Several guards lined up in the corridor collectively kicked and slapped inmates as they were being moved.

The violence occurred after a series of COVID-19 infections among inmates heightened anxiety, and some inmates protested demanding sufficient mask supplies and other prevention measures.

Following the video's release, the Italian government launched an immediate investigation. The Italian Minister of Justice condemned the incident as a violation of inmates' human rights and ordered a thorough internal inquiry. Additionally, local prosecutors arrested 52 prison guards on charges of official assault and injury. All of them are currently suspended from duty.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.