Photo diary: Inside 'Holot' detention center for asylum seekers
In a special feature for +972, Activestills brings you exclusive images taken by prisoners inside Israel’s holding facility for asylum seekers.
Since December 2013, the Israeli government has sent more than 1,000 Eritrean and Sudanese refugees to the Holot ‘open’ detention facility in Israel’s south, where they are being held without charge until they can be deported or have their asylum claims processed. For most detainees, this means an indefinite stay in prison.
Through the lens of Ahmad, a Holot prisoner, we come face to face with the conditions in the detention facility, which include a lack of proper food and medicine.
The photos also give a glimpse of the perseverance of asylum seekers. Whether they are playing music or battling it out on the soccer court, refugees are finding ways to celebrate life.
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Holot photo diary, day 43: Prison employment
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Holot photo diary, day 42: Nobody to take care of the sick
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Holot photo diary, day 42: Receiving our allowance
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Holot photo diary, day 41: Fenced in, wherever you go
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Holot photo diary, day 39: Prison leisure
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Holot photo diary, day 37: Breakfast is served
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Holot photo diary, day 36: Living in close quarters
Day 36 - (March 9, 2014) We stay 10 people in one room. Going up and down our beds all day. One shower and toilet for all of us.
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Holot photo diary, day 21-26: Easing the pain
Day 21 - Day 26 (February 22 - February 27, 2014) Notes: My friend was sick and got these painkillers. Right after he took them he got even sicker, in his stomach too. We were all awake at night because he wasn't feeling well. Nobody in Holot cares about you when you don't feel well, there is no medical center, only a small room. You either need to take public transportation to Beer Sheva, or you need to walk. If it is really bad they take you. I think they are trying to kill us. It made me very sad.…
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Holot photo diary, day 8: Bunk beds and half lunches
Day 8, (Monday, February 9, 2014)
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Holot photo diary, day 4: Prison lunch
Day 4 (Wednesday, February 5, 2014)
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Holot photo diary, day 3: Singing for our freedom
Day 3 (Tuesday, February 4, 2014) "My friend from Darfur was singing a song on the Long Walk for Freedom, to strengthen us. The situation here is very bad." Click here for Ahmad's full photo diary from Holot
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Holot photo diary, day 2: Fending for ourselves
Day 2 (Monday, February 3, 2014): Click here for Ahmad's full photo diary from Holot
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Holot photo diary, day 1: 'This is a real prison'
Day 1 (Sunday, February 2, 2014): "We arrived at Holot. This doesn’t feel like an open camp at all, this is a real prison. They say it’s not true, that I’m free as a newborn, but this is not the case.” Click here for Ahmad's full photo diary from Holot
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