We greeted morning with a tour of Vridsløselille, Denmark’s oldest prison and one of the countries’ three closed prisons. Built in 1859, Vridsløselille’s design adheres to the principles of the panopticon, invented by Jeremy Bentham about 100 years prior.
The aim of the panopticon model was to allow guards and others to observe the prisoners without knowing themselves that they’re being watched. The intention of this, as Peter Scharff told us in a lecture later in the day, was not only to punish the prisoners, but, in line with enlightenment thinking contemporary to the time, to reform the prisoners as well. As Scharff, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, told us, the rehabilitation of these prisoners was to come about through the self-regulation that was to be provoked by the constant surveillance. Additionally, it was believed, isolation the prisoners from one another would remove negative moral influence.
Eventually it became clear that this rationale was faulty. Today, the observation tower in Vridsløselille is closed, and the prison adheres to a human right’s based approach which, according to Scharff, is founded on the idea that the prisoner should retain his civil rights to the degree possible within the system. Since 1973 Denmark pledged to adhere to a normalization principle as the foundation for managing imprisonment. We witnessed this engagement during our tour of the prison. An inmate allowed us the pleasure of viewing his ‘cell’ which felt more like a small yet cosy living room, equipped with television, curtains, paintings and other niceties. While standing in the fully-stocked kitchen of spices, pots, pans and knives, where the prisoners cook their own meals, a fellow inquired as whether or not morning meals ever erupt into violence. With no time to pause, the guard – who by law carries no weapon – quickly remarked that this has never been an issue. It became clear to the fellows that the prison system was built mainly on mutual trust...and also the realization that acting up could result in solitary confinement and the restriction of other freedoms granted to the prisoners.
After Scharff put forth the practicalities of what we witnessed at Vridsløselille earlier in the day, and to cap off the series of lectures, Mr. Jonas Christoffersen looked at a specific Danish court case as a lens for comprehending the state of law in modern-day Denmark. In Christoffersen’s dense analysis of the ‘Tunesian Case,’ the intricacies of balancing counter-terrorism legislation with democracy and legitimate statehood were debated. It was clear that Human Rights are integral to this debate. In the Tunesian Case, the supposed attempt to murder the infamous Danish cartoonist Kurt Vestergaard was construed as an attack on freedom of speech; at the same time, the observance of the principle that no one should be expelled to a country where they risk torture is upheld.
It is hard to believe that twelve days of Humanity in Action have gone by. Time and time again, we are confronted with complex situations that make us question and rethink preconceived notions. Today we were blessed with many eye-opening experiences, but the real treat of the day happened mid-morning. As we made our way to the church of Vridsløselille, the courtyard was filled with hums and hymns and tender sounds. What was it? We walked into the church and were greeted by the seven members of the Fangekor, or prison choir.
It was a blessing that we interrupted their practice, for the Fangekor was willing to serenade us with song. These prisoners – many of which looked brute in appearance – seemed vulnerable and sincere when absorbed in their singing, challenging our stereotype of what it means to be a criminal.
It is hard to succinctly describe the emotions present in the church during those few songs, as we witnessed in awe the prisoners choice to overcome adversity through song. In the words of one of the choir members explaining why he joined the Fangekor ‘it’s hard to be down and in a bad mood when you sing.’
P.S. Keep your eyes peeled to see the Fangekor play at a venue near you. They’re booked until 2012!
Marissa and Isa
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