Although there is no internationally accepted legal definition of a political prisoner, the term generally refers to somebody who is jailed for their political activities and outspoken political views. Amnesty International says a political prisoner is: 'Any prisoner whose case has a significant political element.'
Ireland has a long history of debate over what it means to be a political prisoner. Throughout Irish history, Irish republicans have actively sought to be seen as political prisoners, with the British Government often denying them that status. Often, those in prisons who are granted political status have more rights and privileges than those seen as common criminals.
In the early 1980's, ten men died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. They were protesting the British Government's refusal to treat them as political prisoners. Both IRA and loyalist prisoners in the North of Ireland were later granted political status.