Faced with the SADC's demand for the release of political detainees, the current government formally denies the existence of this category of prisoners in Madagascar. What about political prisoners? It is commonly accepted that a political prisoner is a person imprisoned because of their political opinions, opposition to a government, or activities considered a threat to the authorities in place. One is entitled—literally and figuratively—to wonder whether Rinah Rakotomanga, Sahondrarimalala Michelle, Naivo Raholdina, Richard Ravalomanana, Sylvain Rabetsaroana and all the other "forongony" languishing in the country's jails meet one of these criteria. One thing is certain: most of them are prosecuted for endangering state security, which constitutes, from a criminological perspective, a political offense. A crime against the State that refers to violations of the law targeting institutions, authorities, or the political order—that is, linked to the exercise of political power. It can even directly target the head of state, as is the case with the president of the Refoundation who claims there are attempts on his life. A resort to criminal violence for political motives that is precisely characteristic of certain political prisoners. Or who can also be considered as such because of the political nature of their functions, their opinions, or their commitment. This applies to currently imprisoned deputies, who benefit from the presumption of innocence, even though their parliamentary immunity has been lifted. Rightly or unjustly. If there are crimes against the State, there can also be crimes committed by the State, which correspond to illegal or abusive acts carried out by leaders to preserve or increase their power. In either case, these are crimes of a political nature, which give both the presumed perpetrators and the supposed victims a situation, if not a status, of political prisoner. In the criminological sense of the term.