A Black Muslim man who survived self-immolation on September 15, 2024, at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison, Ekong Ben Eshiet (Indiana DOC #304103) was transferred to Westville Correctional Facility in Indiana in retaliation for using his voice to cast a light on the human rights violations in Red Onion.
| Ekong is now entering his eighth (8) straight month of solitary confinement, and needs your help to be released from this protracted form of torture. Ekong, in addition to the trauma he experienced in his childhood, has been subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse in his journey through the Virginia prison system destroying his mental health. In Virginia he was repeatedly: Beaten, pepper-sprayed, attacked by a dog, and left untreated after suffering severe burns Had death threats made against him and his family Called racial slurs and anti-Muslim insults Denied access to his Quran, medication, and clean food Denied mental health care Rather than provide help, Virginia DOC punished him by transferring him out of state, far from his family and legal advocates, to Indiana on April 9, 2025. Since arriving, he has been placed in solitary confinement without cause or hearing. Ekong, who has received multiple diagnoses for severe mental illnesses, has now been in isolation at Westville alone for over 36 days, even though Indiana DOC’s own policies prohibit solitary confinement beyond 30 days for those with these diagnoses. His condition is deteriorating. He has no access to mental health services. He has been denied meaningful communication. And no one will tell him how long he will remain in solitary. From his recent statement: “I wanted to die instead of continuously getting oppressed by DOC. This is cruel and unusual punishment. Death before defilement.” Click to read a statement Ekong wrote shortly after being transferred. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: Contact Indiana DOC & Virginia DOC. Flood their lines. Write. Demand his release from solitary. Lloyd Arnold Director of Indiana DOC (812) 267-9357 LArnold@idoc.in.gov 302 W Washington St Indianapolis, IN 46204 Jason Smiley Westville Warden (219) 785-2511 ex. 4001 Jasmiley@idoc.in.gov 5501 S 1100 W Westville, IN 46391 Indiana DOC Ombudsman Bureau: (317) 234-3190 Ombud@idoa.in.gov Indiana Ombudsman Bureau 402 W. Washington St., Room W479 Indianapolis, IN 46204 Indiana DOC Headquarters: (317) 232-5711 Indiana State Prison Health Services: (219) 874- 7257 (press 7) Virginia DOC: (804) 674-3000 docmail@vadoc.virginia.gov VA Inspector General: osig@osig.virginia.gov Virginia DOC Health and Medical: (804) 887-8118 healthservicesinquiries@vadoc.virginia.gov Sample message: “I am contacting you about Ekong Eshiet (State #304103), currently in long-term restrictive housing in Indiana. He is classified as seriously mentally ill and should not be in solitary confinement. Ekong needs mental health treatment, not to be punished without cause. This is a human rights emergency. Release him from ‘stay’ immediately.” Ekong is in crisis and is crying out for help. Let’s not let his voice go unheard. Let’s act together. |
| This is what Prison Radio is about. Creating platforms where people inside can speak truth, share wisdom, and be heard—not just as prisoners, but as leaders, thinkers, and community voices. Prison Radio is launching a fund to directly support the commissary of Ekong and other survivors of the crisis in Virginia’s Red Onion and Wallens Ridge prisons. Consider donating on a monthly basis! |
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