political prisoners

Being a political prisoner does not give one a life-time immunity from criticisms.  There were people who were in Saddam jails and who were brutally tortured and later cheered the American occupation (like Husayn Sharistani who is selling Iraqi oil to US companies and at reduced prices).  This is true of political prisoners who suffered under brutal regimes (like in Syria, Israel, and Saudi Arabia).  Don't forget that Muhammad Dahlan and Jibril Rajjub (two of the worst five Palestinians) were once prisoners in Israeli jails (but in their cases, they were probably placed there to spy on other prisoners).