DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

24 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Amnesty report slams inhuman conditions at Dutch jail terrorist units

October 31, 2017
A prison corridor
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Conditions in the Netherlands’ high security terrorist TA units at two jails are inhuman and violate human rights, Amnesty International and the Open Society Justice Initiative said in a joint report on Tuesday.

In some cases, prisoners being held in the Rotterdam and Vught terrorist units are locked up alone for so long it can be considered long-lasting solitary confinement, the organisations say. This is banned under international human rights rules.

In addition, detainees are often subject to repeated full body searches involving them stripping completely naked. The report also points out that many of the people held in the units are awaiting trial and have not been found guilty of any crimes.

‘Persons suspected of involvement in such acts are placed into a regime that publicly stigmatises them with the label “terrorist” and treats them identically to persons who are held there convicted of serious crimes. This seriously undermines the right of suspects to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,’ the report says, adding that people can be held for up to 27 months without trial.

One woman, who was eventually acquitted of all charges, told the researchers she spent 10 consecutive weeks and then another three consecutive weeks cut off from other detainees during her more than five months of detention at TA Vught from 2016 to 2017.

Risk

The human rights organisations say the authorities should first assess how great a risk people pose to society before deciding to send them to the specialist units. They also say that detainees who are awaiting trial should not be locked up alone or strip searched until they have been convicted, unless absolutely necessary.

‘Failure to reform current TA policies and practices raises concern about violations of detainees’ human rights and even the TA’s effectiveness in preparing the detainees for life after detention,’ the report says.

‘It is possible that someone suspected, not convicted, of an entirely non-violent crime, like posting something online, could end up being detained alone for up to 22 hours a day for the duration of their stay without ever being allowed to hold their child or have other meaningful human contact with the outside world.’

Reforms

A spokesman for the justice ministry told broadcaster NOS that conditions at the special units do meet international standards.

However, reforms are under way, the spokesman said. For example, every detainee will be assessed to determine if they are easily influenced or open for dialogue and the two groups will be separated, the spokesman said.

DutchNews.nl has contacted the ministry for comment.

 

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch fundamentalist Protestants again say "no" to women MPs
AEX falls as Trump threatens 50% import tariff on European goods
Dutch forensic experts develop deepfake video detector
Zaanstad says yes to tourist tickets for Zaanse Schans windmills
Fewer international child abductions by parents last year
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now