Former President Nicolas Sarkozy was incarcerated at La Santé prison following his conviction. According to some reports, he was placed in isolation for security reasons.
The question arises: is being alone in a cell a human rights violation?
According to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), "solitary confinement is not prohibited in itself, but it can become a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights" in certain cases:
- when the duration is extended without sufficient justification;
- when there is no activity or social contact;
- when there is no regular review or oversight of the measure.
Some examples from case law
- Ramírez Sánchez v. France (2006): the Court held that total isolation amounted to inhuman treatment
- A.T. v. Estonia (2018): isolation must be exceptional and subject to procedural safeguards
- N.T. v. Russia (2020): even isolation shared by two detainees can violate Article 3 if the situation reproduces certain psychological effects
In summary
Being alone in a cell is not automatically contrary to human rights. However, "prolonged, unjustified isolation, without human contact, can constitute inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights)."