Foreign Prisoners Network · Mauritius
Victims of the drug trade face up to eight years of pre-trial detention in one of the world's harshest prison systems — without dignity, without a fair trial, without a voice.
Misconduct by officials is a crime
Were you pressured to sign documents that were not accurate? Intimidated into silence? Did you witness testimony under oath that was not truthful? Your experience could make a difference — share it in confidence, with full respect for your privacy.
About the network
Foreign Prisoners Network is an NGO helping foreign detainees held under extreme circumstances in long pre-trial remand in Mauritius. The system is known for extreme remands without trial — periods that can count up to eight years.
Meanwhile, FSL and IT-unit reports take years. Families abroad suffer from a lack of communication and clear information about their loved ones. We raise funds, finance lawyers, and work to bring fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters back home.
Read our full mission
Main problems
Conditions in the high-security prison of Melrose contradict the human-rights agreements Mauritius signed with the United Nations, Amnesty International and the African Commission.
No access to toilet paper, clean water or warm water — dangerous health risks and inhumane conditions, in breach of signed human-rights agreements.
Prisoners have no warm water to shower or to clean their clothes, increasing bacteria and disease inside the cells.
Dignity starts with freedom of religion. The system disrespects the religious and dietary needs of the detainees.
Education is prohibited even when facilitated by the detainee, causing long-term cognitive harm, isolation and depression.
No structured daily routine. Detainees are placed in concrete units far from everything, with rare moments of activity.
Only 4×10 minutes of calls per month, shared with lawyers — with no privacy. Family ties slowly break apart.
"I am a free human being with an independent will — and have the full right to live my life in the most respectful way."
Foreign Prisoners Network
Voices from inside
My brother has a challenge.He has an ear problem in prison.He didn,t get proper medication.His eardrum burst and there was no proper medication .Now both his ears are affected and he was bleeding .No measures have been taken by the responsible authorities in the prison .Im kindly asking you to help us urgently because he needs urgent medical assistance.
Greetings my husband is Mauritoous prison is having an ear problem since last year and proper medication was rentered to him .He looses one of his eardrum it burst and now all his ears are totally gone .He never slept well yesternight and the responsible authouritu haven,t send him to hospital .May you plis assist him urgently
Greetings My brother was approached for work by some men he met on his way to work. At that time, he was a shoe seller. They promised him green pastures in Mauritiusand asked if he had a passport so they could sponsor his flight and all expenses to go and work there. After sponsoring him, they then forced him to carry drugs. They threatened to kill him if he refused. It has now been 4 years that he has been in prison. We are appealing for justice and requesting that he be deported back to Zimbabwe to complete his sentence here at home, close to his family. He is also suffering from ear problems. He cannot hear properly and urgently needs a hearing aidand proper medical examination. He left his family at a very young age, and we are pleading for your help to bring him back home to be with us. We would be grateful for any assistance you can provide regarding his repatriation and medical treatment. Thank you for your time and consideration. God bless you. Yours faithfully Polite kaitano Your Contact Number:+263778993989 Relationship to the person. sister
Stand against corruption in law enforcement and prisons in Mauritius. Share your experience, volunteer, or donate.
