Ekong Eshiet Abused in Indiana

Dear Friend,

Last week I was able to speak with Ekong Eshiet for the first time in nearly 50 days and what he has been going through in that time has left me feeling horrified and outraged. Since we last spoke, Ekong, still indefinitely condemned to solitary confinement, has been moved into a filthy cell – infested with bugs, and without a bunk – denied all contact with the outside, restricted phone and tablet access, and only let out from his cage to shower three times a week.

Threatened by his outspokenness and activism, as well as for his role in exposing the injustices at Red Onion State Prison, the administration at Westville Correctional Facility, specifically Jason Smiley (Warden), Phillip Sonnenberg (Deputy Warden), and Dr. Athans (Mental Health Professional), have singled Ekong out. During a weekly meeting of the facility’s top-ranking administrators in November, Ekong was called in and interrogated about his mental health, threatened with placement in an even more draconian cell, and told to halt the calls and emails that have been pouring in from the outside. The so-called mental health treatment has turned into more surveillance of him as mental health professionals have repeatedly badgered him about suicidal ideation and have begun to quietly observe him at random points during the day after he began to report symptoms stemming from prolonged solitary confinement.

Recently, a fully geared tactical unit has assembled outside his door and threatened to physically beat him.

To be clear, Ekong’s prolonged solitary confinement is exacerbating his mental health.

International human rights standards such as the UN Nelson Mandela Rules state that prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement, beyond 15 consecutive days, amounts to cruel and inhumane torture. Solitary confinement’s deprivation of social interaction, sensory stimulation, and bodily agency often leads to severe psychological trauma, including anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, depression, self-harm, and lasting mental damage – effects that meet legal and ethical definitions of torture.

Its routine or punitive use violates international human rights law.

Learn more about efforts to stop Solitary Confinement.

Ekong has been asking for one simple thing – humane treatment. This would involve a release from solitary confinement, access to therapeutic and educational programs that are readily available, mental health treatment from people with a genuine interest in his well-being, and consistent contact with his loved ones.

Ekong does not want to remain in Indiana, hundreds of miles away from his family in Virginia. Rather, he would like to return to Virginia and find placement in a less restrictive facility in Virginia – a demand he originally made by setting his lower body afire while subjected to torture at Red Onion State Prison.

Listen to Ekong Eshiet’s commentaries.

Read “When Fire is the Only Way Out” article featuring the fires at Red Onion State Prison.

ACT NOW!

As people of conscience watching these events unfold, we must use the tide of our voices to push back against the onslaught of abuses. Take a few minutes out of your day to help advocate for a man the US prison system is intent on silencing and disappearing. Make a few calls, use our email tool, and donate to directly support inmates who are battling the monster from the inside.

Public Pressure is Critical!

Call:

Larry Arnold – IDOC Director
(812) 267-9357
Jason Smiley – Warden, Westville CF
(219) 785-2511 x4004
Dalton Haney, Executive Director of Classification (IDOC)
(317) 232-2233
Charlene Burkett – Director, Indiana DOC Ombudsman Bureau
(317) 234-3190

Email:

dhaney@idoc.in.gov, Larnold@idoc.in.gov, jasmiley@idoc.in.gov, pjsonnenberg@idoc.in.gov, abedford@idoc.in.gov, iblc@iga.in.gov, info@thevlbc.com, info@IndianaDisabilityRights.org, jbasinger@idoc.in.gov, jmather@idoc.in.gov, cblessinger@idoc.in.gov, anquick@idoc.in.gov, jstout@idoc.in.gov, Ombud@idoa.in.gov, docmail@vadoc.virginia.gov, kyle.rosch@vadoc.virginia.gov, marcus.elam@vadoc.virginia.gov, steve.herrick@vadoc.virginia.gov, osig@osig.virginia.gov, christopherfolk1@gmail.com

Sample Email/Script:

To officials of the Indiana Department of Correction, Westville Correctional Facility, the Indiana Ombudsman Bureau, Indiana Disability Rights, the Virginia Department of Corrections, and the Virginia Office of the State Inspector General:

I am writing to speak out against the IDOC’s treatment of Ekong Eshiet (#304103) who, since May 2025, has been held in indefinite solitary confinement without a specific justification based in law or policy at Westville Correctional Facility. I have recently learned of the prolonged communication blackout Ekong was subjected to starting November 26th, 2025 and the specific targeting of this outspoken individual by Warden Smiley, Deputy Warden Sonnenburg, and MHP Athans.

According to his own recorded and transcribed statements between November 2025 and January 2026, Mr. Eshiet has:

Been moved into a camera monitored, pest-infested cell without a bunk
Had weeks where he was denied out of cell time except to shower three times a week
Been denied meaningful access to mental health treatment, rehabilitative programming, and reentry preparation.
Had his tablet and phone access cut after he recorded and shared an account of his conditions, with an Internal Affairs investigator later describing this as a “social media” issue rather than engaging with the substance of his testimony.
Had fully geared tactical teams assembled outside his door and threaten him with physical violence.

Ekong is requesting one simple thing – humane treatment. Virginia and Indiana have a shared responsibility in ensuring that this survivor of the Red Onion State Prion self-immolation protests is able to access to his tablet in order to regularly communicate with loved ones, access to recreational time and readily available therapeutic and education programming, and a release from solitary confinement!

Lastly, respect Ekong’s request for a transfer back to VA where he can receive visits from his friends and family. Stop the silencing of a prisoner-activist speaking up for his human rights!

Signed,

[Your Name]

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Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win

All Power to the People,

Christopher Folk