Prague - Recently, Czech prisoners have filed several lawsuits against what they claim are unacceptable living conditions they are subjected to, namely overcrowded cells.
Jiří Pivoda who coordinates the lawsuits says more than 10 new lawsuits are prepared.
"Other prisoners are filing their claims at the Justice Ministry," Pivoda said to Aktualne.cz.
The initiative takes its inspiration from a successful lawsuit of a prisoner in Italy. The European Court for Human Rights ordered Italy to pay the prisoner 1,000 euro for every three months he had spent in unacceptable conditions.
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Prison conditions in general and overcrowding in particular is a problem in the developing and developed world alike.
Pivoda said that instructions of how to file the suit are being passed among prisoners.
In addition to overcrowded cells, the prisoners complain about bad hygienic conditions. Some claim they are forced to spend practically all their time in a space of less than 2 square meters.
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Albert Žirovnický, an inmate from the Mírov prison, said there were six inmates in a cell barely sufficient for three people.
The inmate, imprisoned for murder, also complained about electricity and hot water being available only three times a day.
However, according to the Justice Ministry, the prisoners are not entitled to any compensation. The ministry's spokeswoman Tereza Palečková said to Aktualne.cz that prisoners have to accept certain limitations in terms of their personal comfort and hygiene.
