Italian original version of the appeal here

For the kind attention of the Media,

We are the prisoners in solitary confinement of the prison of Saluzzo (Turin) and we would like to acquaint you with the situation we are forced to live in. We are all defendants awaiting trial (and therefore only under investigation) and, despite that, we are locked in a solitary confinement section.
The jail administration says that we (we are 12 inmates) are not in solitary confinement since there are two people in every cell (sometimes three). The governor, however, forgets to admit that this situation is only due to overcrowding. Each cell has its own courtyard to stay in the open air. The courtyard is six metres by two metres and 80 centimetres large, with a five/six-metre high wall, which in autumn, winter and for most of the spring, does not even see the passage of a ray of sunshine. There are 6 cells for 6 yards. People who go out-of-cell to get some air are marked on the register (getting out time / return time) and can only go to the open space that corresponds to their cell. Paradoxically, during recreation time -from 5 pm to 7 pm – we are allowed to stay together in a narrow corridor, but not in the open air. In the courtyard we have to be separated and remain each one into his own cage. In comparison, animal cages have at least meshes and bars, while in our case there is only a high concrete wall. If in a similar space there was an animal weighing over 15 kg, animal rights organizations would get angry. One of us has seen dozens of courts for inmates all over Italy, but no one like this. These “courts” are usually used for prisoners subjected to the article 41 bis (solitary confinement for convicted members of criminal organisations) of the Italian law. In a section near to us, there are six prisoners in special solitary confinement that have our same spaces and courtyards.
The administration justifies the situation by saying that this is a “Casa di reclusione” (House of imprisonment. These are the institutes designed to the expiation of the custodial sentence.) and not a “Casa circondariale” (A prison for people who are awaiting trial or serving a sentence of no more than 5 years). To get into the 6 sections of the prison you should be a “permanent”. There are workshops, activities in common, the gym and the football area. But not for us. However, as we are under investigation some of us may stay here even a whole year in preventative detention waiting for the trial. The only permission we have is to go to church with a close surveillance section. None of us is here for being subjected to disciplinary measures, and yet we are excluded from all recreational and sports activities that the prison system provides.
We are not complaining about our personal matters, but we believe that the rights and dignity of us prisoners are being violated. We wonder who is supposed to ensure our rights are respected and what is he doing. In conclusion, we will deliver this letter to our attorneys with whom we intend to make a statement to the Procura and we invite the political and social forces to denounce this unbearable situation. Thank you in advance.

Signatures of the 12 prisoners

Fabio G.
Daniele G.
Giorgio R.
Gianpietro F.
Younos O.
Illi E.
Giuseppe M.
Andrei V.
Reoouanne G.
Beppe M.
Giacomo C.
Miraie N.