27 Canarians Jailed Abroad Face Harsh Conditions

For people from the Canary Islands, being imprisoned in a foreign country is a particularly tough reality. About 27 Canarians are currently in prisons outside Spain. This number, from the +34 Foundation, highlights how vulnerable these individuals are and how difficult their living conditions can be. They are part of a larger group of nearly 1,000 Spaniards (998, to be exact) who are serving sentences abroad, dealing with justice systems and prison rules very different from what they know at home.

Most of these arrests, for both Canarians and other Spaniards, are for drug trafficking. The +34 Foundation, which helps these prisoners and their families, supported 17 Canarians last year, showing the scale of the issue. Canarians are held in many different countries: five in Brazil, three in Colombia, three in Morocco, two in Ecuador, and one each in Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Senegal. In Europe, three are in Germany, three in France, and one each in Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. Recently, two Canarians and one Spanish-Venezuelan of Canarian background were released from prison in Venezuela.

Prison conditions in these facilities are often very harsh. Canarian prisoners, like other Spaniards, face major problems with security, healthcare, food, and hygiene. Nuria Pérez, the legal director of the +34 Foundation, notes that many are "first-time offenders." These are people who, facing money troubles or a financial crisis, are hired by drug gangs to carry drugs, often for payments between 5,000 and 20,000 euros. However, the personal price they pay for this choice is far too high.

While sentence lengths differ a lot depending on each country's laws, the biggest worry is the terrible conditions in some prisons. Things like a country's economic situation or the prison's own rules lead to extreme overcrowding, poor hygiene, and not enough healthcare or food. In places like Morocco, not speaking the language makes things even harder. Violence among inmates and extortion are common problems, and security is often weak because other prisoners are in charge.

The +34 Foundation, started in 2011 by Javier Casado after his own experiences showed a lack of support in this area, works to provide these basic necessities. They try to give prisoners what they need, from toilet paper and toothbrushes to women's hygiene products and food. However, in some prisons, this help is difficult because prisoners must buy these items from the prison shop, where prices are much more expensive.

A key part of the Foundation's work is helping prisoners transfer to Spain so they can finish their sentences back home. This process is complicated and takes a long time, as it requires a final sentence that cannot be appealed. In its more than fourteen years, the organization has helped about 150 Canarians, a total of 4,277 Spanish prisoners, and 1,527 families. However, it does not help those convicted of terrorism, sex crimes, human trafficking, homicide, or murder.

The Foundation also tells families whether it's a good idea to visit their loved ones in prison. This is because, in some countries, authorities might think the family is wealthy, which could make it harder to transfer the prisoner. In countries with special agreements with Spain, there's some hope of returning home after serving half of the sentence. For the prisoners themselves, the organization stresses how important it is to stay "calm and stable" to cope with their extremely difficult situation.