What Is El Helicoide, the Infamous Torture Prison in Venezuela?
The New York Times••world
Key Points:
- El Helicoide, originally designed as the world's first drive-through shopping mall in Caracas during the 1950s, has become a notorious prison and symbol of state repression under Nicolás Maduro's regime.
- Human rights groups have condemned El Helicoide as a "torture center" holding dozens of political prisoners amid Venezuela's authoritarian rule.
- The Venezuelan government recently began releasing political prisoners from El Helicoide and other jails, marking a potential shift under the new interim government following the capture of Maduro by U.S. forces.
- As of Saturday, 12 prisoners had been released, though activists emphasize that celebrations are premature until all political detainees are freed.
- U.S. President Trump highlighted the closure
