Today, when it comes to religion, there is plenty to choose from in Dutch prisons. If in the past you could only go to the pastor, the minister or the rabbi, today there are also the Orthodox priest, the humanist counselor, the imam, the pandit and the Buddhist spiritual director.
It is a legal right to freely practice one…
Today, when it comes to religion, there is plenty to choose from in Dutch prisons. If in the past you could only go to the pastor, the minister or the rabbi, today there are also the Orthodox priest, the humanist counselor, the imam, the pandit and the Buddhist spiritual director.
It is a legal right to freely practice one's own faith while incarcerated. As in society, different faiths coexist in prison. How does this work in practice, what do spiritual caregivers do and how is this of value to inmates? In the exhibition BEZIN. you can look over the wall at a special facility in Dutch prisons.
In this exhibition, photographer and filmmaker Ilvy Njiokiktjien provides a special insight into the hidden story of spiritual care during detention at Esserheem prison.
Ilvy Njiokiktjien
For almost twenty years Ilvy Njiokiktjien (NL, 1984) has worked as a documentary photographer and filmmaker. She has won many awards, including World Press Photo and Silver Camera. Her work appears regularly in international media such as The New York Times, Der Spiegel and Stern. In 2017, Ilvy Njiokiktjien joined the international photo agency VII.
