Legal Definitions - prisoner of conscience

A prisoner of conscience is an individual who has been imprisoned or otherwise deprived of their liberty solely because of their political, religious, or other deeply held beliefs, or due to their ethnic origin, gender, race, or language. A critical condition for this designation is that the person has not used or advocated for violence.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Political Dissent

  A prominent blogger in a country with strict censorship laws publishes a series of articles on their personal website, peacefully criticizing the government's economic policies and advocating for greater transparency. They call for citizens to engage in peaceful dialogue and participate in upcoming elections. Despite their non-violent stance, the blogger is arrested and sentenced to prison for "spreading misinformation and inciting public unrest."

  This individual is a prisoner of conscience because they were imprisoned for expressing their conscientiously held political beliefs and advocating for peaceful change, without ever using or promoting violence.

• Example 2: Religious Practice

  In a nation where only one state-sanctioned religion is permitted, a woman is arrested and imprisoned for secretly hosting prayer meetings in her home for a different, unregistered faith. She has never encouraged any form of resistance against the state or violence, focusing purely on spiritual worship and community support within her religious group.

  She qualifies as a prisoner of conscience because her detention is solely due to her practice of a deeply held religious belief, and she has not engaged in or advocated for violence.

• Example 3: Ethnic and Linguistic Rights

  An activist from a minority ethnic group in a certain region peacefully organizes a cultural festival to celebrate their unique language and traditions, which are being suppressed by the dominant culture. He consistently emphasizes cultural preservation and mutual understanding, not political secession or violence. Authorities arrest and detain him, accusing him of "undermining national unity" and "promoting separatism."

  This individual is a prisoner of conscience because he was deprived of his liberty based on his ethnic origin and efforts to preserve his language and culture, all conducted without any use or advocacy of violence.