There's no such thing as monsters.

© camille gharbi - Implosion. © camille gharbi - The collapse. © camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project View all images ↓
View all images ↓
Report issue

The French Ministry of Interior estimates that 295,000 people were physically or sexually abused in relationships between 2011 and 2018. Moreover, 213,000 individuals, or 72%, were female.

The key to preventing repeated offences lies in breaking the violence cycle and examining it from both sides. We must protect victims while addressing their aggressors. Abusive partners are often well-integrated individuals, not monsters living on society's margins. Although the gears that drive abuse are complex, it's our responsibility as a society to face our violence.

As the offenders face their culpability and come to terms with their wrongdoings, they contribute to preventing the crimes they were convicted of. The perpetrators' perspectives and actions make us reflect on our world's brutality and injustice.

Thanks to the prison administration's support, I met volunteers serving their sentences in prison or awaiting trial in detention centres. I questioned why they thought they were there, their techniques for reflecting on their actions, and what coping mechanisms they practice to avoid reoffending.

The colourful emotions expressed by the perpetrators during our interviews punctuated their testimonies and portraits.

This body of work examines the self-reflection process that the perpetrators engage in while serving their sentences. It does not defend, excuse, or diminish the acts they have committed.

The mechanisms that drive domestic abuse are complex but not inevitable. For this to change, we need to look at it head-on. 

"How is it possible for this to happen? What is our collective responsibility to allow this to happen? That's what we're talking about. If you like, there's no such thing as monsters. It's our society. It's us. It's our friends. It's our fathers. That's what we have to look at. We are not here to eliminate them. We are here to make them change. But we have to go through a moment where they look at themselves, where we look at ourselves." 

Adèle Haenel, Médiapart, 04/11/2019.

© camille gharbi - Implosion.
i

Implosion.

© camille gharbi - The collapse.
i

The collapse.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Eric, 50 years old, mechanical test technician. Fifteen years imprisonment for voluntary manslaughter of a person who is or was a spouse. In prison since the age of 44. 

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Joe, 38 years old, machine operator. Five years imprisonment for aggravated violence, harassment, death threats, deterioration of living conditions on a person who has been married. In prison since the age of 36.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Thomas, 38 years old, business leader in the automotive and construction sectors. 20 years of criminal imprisonment for habitual violence, rape with acts of torture and/or barbarism, and death threats against his wife. In prison since the age of 29.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Toufik, 27 years old, casual worker.  Ten months imprisonment for recurring psychological abuse toward his partner. Three months’ imprisonment for escaping while in custody.  In prison since the age of 27.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Romain, 40 years old, truck driver. 22 years of criminal imprisonment for intentional homicide of a person who is or has been a spouse. In prison since the age of 30.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Damien, 31 years old, operator and programmer on digital machines. Electronic music producer and DJ. Twenty-five years imprisonment for voluntary manslaughter of a person who is or was a spouse. In prison since the age of 28. 

© camille gharbi - The blast.
i

The blast.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Titouan, 55 years old, fisherman. 18 years of criminal imprisonment for murder of a person who is or has been a spouse. In prison since the age of 43.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Pi, 47 years old, casual worker. Three years imprisonment for violence against a spouse in a state of intoxication, violence against third parties aggravated by two circumstances followed by incapacity for work of more than 8 days, and aggravated violence against persons holding public authority. In prison since the age of 44.

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Emy, 49 years old, housekeeper and life assistant. Twelve years imprisonment for voluntary manslaughter of a person who is or was a spouse. In prison since the age of 44. 

© camille gharbi - Image from the There's no such thing as monsters. photography project
i

Raphael, 34 years old, assistant bank manager. Twenty-five years imprisonment for voluntary manslaughter of a person who is or was a spouse. In prison since the age of 26.