A letter from an abused former prisoner at Pentonville prison

Good afternoon, my name is John Afeigen, i am of mixed race heritage
and I was recently released from prison. My email is regarding human
rights abuse and racism within prisons across the united kingdom.
While I was a prisoner at Pentonville prison, I believe my human
rights were abused on various occasions. This was procedure throughout
the prison system, I had been transferred to 5 different prisons and
had suffered racial abuse and human rights violation within 3 of the
prison’s.

This problem of abuse and violation, is hidden within the
system and prisoners are losing their lives without anyone being held
responsible. I personally was found dead in a prison cell, the prison
system had blamed me by indicating that I had commit suicide due to
mental health issues and had died but what they failed to mention was
that the prison system has some inhumane living conditions for people
to live in, it also has staff members who do not value human life and
abuse prisoners without being punished. Their is widespread corruption
within the prison and probation systems.

I am currently under supervision of a probation officer who consistently violates my rights by interfering with any medical support I currently am in need of by stopping me from receiving medical help and support from my GP.

I am being left to suffer with severe health problems and the prison system
is using my medical problems against me, by stating I am high risk and
a danger to the public and the government. They are also stating that
I am faking my health issues and are using fabricated and false
information to try and take my children away from myself and my
partner. They have stated in documents that I am paranoid and will not
allow me to be around my children.

I am not sure who else I can contact about what has happened to me while I was in prison and about what is going on at this moment? While I was in prison, a lot of people died including myself and nothing seems to be done about what is going on within the prison system as they seem to be covering up the deaths of inmates on a regular basis, a lot of the inmates that
die are black or of ethnic backgrounds.

I am lucky to be alive and feel the need to report my personal experience and also the going on’s within the prison walls, now that I have been released as the prison system had stopped me from reaching out and getting help by intercepting my mail including rule 39 documents to solicitors and also to family members. I understand that when you are in prison, a persons liberty is taken away, however we should still be entitled to our human rights?

I am sending you this email in hope that someone will respond and help
me to get some form of justice for all of the things I went through
and for all of the prisoners who are still going through it.

Kind regards

Mr John Afeigen

Justice for Shukri Abdi – protest Hyde Park London Saturday 27th June 1pm

Below is the text from the petition started nearly a year ago demanding a full investigation into the drowning of Shurki, which many suspect was in fact an act or murder. The campaign is supported by John Boyega and the daughter of Malcolm X, Ilyasah Shabazz, and US rapper Ice Cube.

We call for a criminal investigation to be opened into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shukri Abdi and for a criminal prosecution to take place

We want a fair trial in the case where we get fair justice for the murder of Shukri Abdi – we do not want it to be brushed under the carpet like nothing happened. And we want to see appropriate action taken against those who were involved in the murder of Shukri Abdi.

We want to see Real Justice – based upon a proper and full criminal investigation which should be opened ASAP – and not brushed away like it was 11 months ago.

12-year-old Shurki drowned in the River Irwell in Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police said it was treating what happened as a “tragic incident” and did not believe there were any suspicious circumstances.

Shukri’s family, who live in Bury, said she could not swim and playing by the river was “out of character”.

Her uncle, Mustaf Omar, said: “She was a sweet, innocent child. Her mum is absolutely destroyed.”

“Everything about it is out of character for her.

“She couldn’t swim so she wouldn’t even go near the edge.”

Shukri, from Somalia, was the eldest of five children and was new to the country, Mr Omar said.

She attended Broad Oak Sports College.

Head teacher Paul Greenhalgh said: “Shukri was a lovely young girl, always smiling, always wanting to please people and work hard.”

Sign the petition