“You start to go crazy,” said Australian Matthew Radalj, recounting his five years in a Chinese prison. While many people have heard about the harsh conditions in some jails around the world, it’s not often that you get such a detailed account from someone who has experienced it firsthand.
Radalj found himself sharing a dirty cell with dozens of others, enduring constant sleep deprivation and having bright lights on 24 hours a day. He describes poor hygiene and forced labor as part of his daily life. These are just glimpses into what prisoners in Chinese facilities endure regularly.
The Beijing No 2 prison, where Radalj was held, is known for housing international inmates. As he now resides outside China, he has chosen to speak out about the physical punishment, psychological torture, food deprivation, and forced labor he witnessed and went through during his time behind bars.
Radalj’s Introduction to Hell
“I was in really bad shape when I arrived… They beat me for two days straight,” recalls Radalj about his initial days after being arrested. His journey to imprisonment began with a dispute over fixing a mobile phone screen that led to him signing a false confession due to the belief that defending his innocence would be futile given China’s high conviction rate.
Once inside prison walls, Radalj faced even more grueling challenges during what he described as an excruciating “transition phase.” This period involved appalling restrictions like being denied showers for months at a time and limited use of toilets amidst unsanitary conditions.
The Psychological Warfare
Radalj sheds light on the “good behavior points system,” which was meant to reduce sentences but ended up being used as psychological manipulation by guards. The system imposed unattainable conditions on inmates, leading to constant stress and fear of losing any progress made towards sentence reduction.
Former prisoners corroborated this account by describing similar manipulative tactics employed in different detention centers across China. The oppressive environment created by these systems was intended to crush spirits and maintain control over inmates through fear and uncertainty.
The Battle Over Food
Food became another tool for control within Chinese prisons, with former inmates revealing how meals primarily consisted of meager portions of cabbage soaked in dirty water alongside plain bread. Malnourishment was rampant among prisoners due to insufficient nutrition coupled with minimal opportunities for exercise.
In addition to basic rations provided by the prison system, inmates could purchase extra food items using funds deposited into their accounts by relatives or embassy support. However, even this privilege could be revoked as leverage against disobedient prisoners who refused certain tasks or assignments within the facility.
Expert Insights:
Insights from experts can help us understand why such systems exist within prisons globally:
Dr. Johanna Smithson – Forensic Psychologist:
“The use of psychological manipulation techniques like those described by Radalj is disturbingly common in correctional facilities worldwide. Such practices aim not only at controlling behavior but also at breaking down individuals’ sense of self-worth.”
A Glimpse into Solitary Confinement
Radalj’s narrative delves into solitary confinement—a harrowing experience marked by isolation, sensory deprivation (through constant lighting), and mental exhaustion driven by prolonged periods without human interaction or mental stimulation.
