Sardinia prison wing houses 183 mafia inmates under strict 41-bis isolation, sparking protests
Italy has moved about 183 high-risk mafia prisoners to a new wing on Sardinia under the ultra-restrictive 41-bis regime, prompting local protests and political criticism.
Around 183 mafia convicts have been placed in a new prison wing on Sardinia under Italy’s toughest 41-bis isolation regime, which aims to cut off communication with criminal networks. Officials argue the island location makes it easier to enforce separation, but Governor Alessandra Todde accused the central government of unilateral, arrogant action and compared Sardinia to a historic French penal colony. She cited existing staff shortages, underscored by a 2023 escape of a mafia boss from an Apulian prison.
Deputy Justice Minister Alberto Balboni rejected the governor’s remarks, labeling her a hypocrite because the wing was commissioned by a former minister from the Five Star Movement. Hundreds of residents in Cagliari protested the influx, while the regime confines inmates to nine-square-metre cells, limits exercise to one hour with a few others, and monitors all conversations, drawing criticism from human-rights organisations.
Why it matters
The move raises concerns about prison overcrowding, human-rights standards, and the effectiveness of Italy's fight against organized crime.
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