Some of them are prisoners of conscience. Even when political prisoners receive a trials they do not conform to international fair trial standards. According to reports, in some cases prisoners are not even present in court when the verdicts are announced. Some are only informed of the verdicts through their relatives who approach the authorities for clarification. Prisoners continue to be held in conditions that in many instances amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Cells are small, hot and overcrowded, and lack adequate sleeping space.