Thai Prison Fights: win your out-of-prison card with muay thai

In Thailand, Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is the favorite sport. It allows some to get out of poverty and since last year it also allow prisonners to win shorter sentences or even freedom.

For 1 year , the Thai government has revived an old tradition rewarding bravery in battle with freedom. Like during the Roman Empire where the bravest gladiators were forgiven. So every two months, the Ministry of Justice organizes a boxing tournament with a reduction of prison time for the winner. The project is called Prison Fight and even its website (prisonfight.com). Here is a lttle video about it.

These Prison Fights do not make everybody happy. In a way, they send the message:  if you fight well in Thailand, you can commit any crime you want. The fighters also have a special treatment so prsion is not such a hard time for them comparing to others prisonners. Not to mention the families of the victims who can see the culprit leave without completing his sentence. A thai cultural exception…