Ilich Ramirez Sanchez: Carlos The Jackal

Carlos was held in solitary confinement from the time of his arrest in 1994, until 2002.

In November 1998 Carlos went on a three-week hunger strike to protest against conditions on the prison.

On 23rd June 1999 the French court of appeal turned down Carlos’ petition against his life sentence.

In October 2001 he announced his engagement to his lawyer, Isabelle Coutante-Peyre. They were married under Islamic rights shortly after.

In June 2003 he released a book praising Osama bin Laden, and the 9/11 attacks. He also claimed to have completed his memoirs, which are to be published after his death.

As of January 2006, he continues to pursue a case against the French government, in the European Court of Human Rights, claiming an infringement of his human rights, for the eight years he was held in solitary confinement. A lower court has already ruled that his human rights were not infringed.