Do prisoners receive the same healthcare as the rest of the people, and what is the view of Islam on equality in this matter?

Islam has given great importance to prisons and prisoners in order to preserve human dignity. The rulings related to prisons can be divided into two sections:

Firstly: Rulings related to the prisoner's personal health: 1. Imprisoning the sick: The judge determines the permissibility of imprisoning a sick person. If sufficient healthcare is available and the illness is not serious, then imprisonment is permissible. Otherwise, someone is appointed to treat and safeguard them. 2. Sickness of a prisoner inside prison: Prisoners inside prison must be treated. Doctors and attendants should not be prevented from entering to see them. If treatment is not possible inside, they must be released for treatment under the supervision of the prison. 3. It is not permissible to harm a prisoner or instill fear in them, and their relatives should not be prevented from visiting them. 4. It is legislated to allocate a medical section in the prison for the care of prisoners. 5. Prisoners should be enabled to see their wives and have conjugal relations if a suitable place is available. 6. Jurists have stipulated the obligation to enable prisoners to perform ablution (wudu') and purification (tahara).

Secondly: Rulings related to the health care of the place used for imprisonment: The prison must be spacious, clean, well-ventilated, and equipped with all health facilities. It is not permissible to gather a large number of prisoners in one place.

Thirdly: Prohibitions in disciplining prisoners: 1. Mutilation of the body. 2. Striking the face, putting shackles on the neck, and laying them on the ground for flogging. 3. Torture by fire, strangulation, or drowning in water, except in cases of retribution (qisas) and equivalence. 4. Starvation, exposure to cold, feeding them harmful substances, and preventing them from wearing clothes. 5. Stripping them of their clothes. 6. Preventing them from relieving themselves, performing ablution, and praying.

Muslims have cared for prisoners throughout history. The Prophet, peace be upon him, ordered that the needs of captives be met. Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, inspected prisons. Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz ordered care for the sick within them. Al-Mu'tadid al-Abbasi allocated a monthly budget for the expenses and treatment of prisoners. Al-Muqtadir al-Abbasi ordered the treatment of his imprisoned minister. And Minister Ali ibn Isa emphasized the necessity of providing doctors and medicines for prisoners.