Chelsea Manning is being held in prolonged solitary confinement, a form of torture

Chelsea Manning -- whistleblower, torture survivor, hero -- is back behind bars for refusing to testify before a grand jury about her whistleblowing activity; for 16 days, she has been held in solitary confinement in a cell for 22 hours/day, not able to speak to others, denied access to the law library, and prohibited from having reading materials.

Here is a statement from Chelsea Resists!, Chelsea Mannings Support Committee.

We condemn the solitary confinement that Chelsea Manning has been subjected to during her incarceration at William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center.

Since her arrival at Truesdale on March 8th, Chelsea has been placed in administrative segregation[1], or adseg, a term designed to sound less cruel than solitary confinement. However, Chelsea has been kept in her cell for 22 hours a day. This treatment qualifies as Solitary Confinement[2].

Chelsea cant be out of her cell while any other prisoners are out, so she cannot talk to other people, or visit the law library, and has no access to books or reading material. She has not been outside for 16 days. She is permitted to make phone calls and move about outside her cell between 1 and 3 a.m..

As today is Day 16, Chelsea is now in Prolonged Solitary, as defined by Juan Mendez, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture:[3]

I have defined prolonged solitary confinement as any period in excess of 15 days. This definition reflects the fact that most of the scientific literature shows that, after 15 days, certain changes in brain functions occur and the harmful psychological effects of isolation can become irreversible.