MANAMA: Rights of inmates and detainees at the Dry Dock Detention Centre are being upheld, the Ombudsman Office said yesterday.
The watchdog investigated allegations by inmates’ relatives in connection with a hunger strike at the prison facility in Hidd.
“Mothers of a few inmates visited the Ombudsman Office in Seef District and complained about prison conditions on Sunday,” the office said in a statement yesterday.
“They claimed that several inmates were on a hunger strike and they would continue their protest until their demands were met.
“Soon more people came forward with complaints and some of them were told to report through WhatsApp due to Covid-19 protocols.
“An Ombudsman team visited the Dry Dock Centre on the same day. They inspected the facility, interviewed a group of inmates, including those whose families submitted requests, and met the centre’s administration.
“Some of the detainees demanded that their yard timings be increased. They also wanted to walk to different cells and have their cell doors left open 24 hours a day. A few even called for changing police guards at one of the buildings.”
The Ombudsman’s Office asserted that the demands were unreasonable and illegal.
“The law states that inmates can roam freely in the yard for almost two hours a day,” the statement said.
“Keeping the cell doors open all day and night could endanger the lives of both inmates and guards.
“Regarding the hunger strike, the inmates were advised to give up the protest. They were urged to submit their complaints to the competent authorities, including the national remedy institutions.
“The centre confirmed that it continues to provide meals to the inmates besides medical care. Periodic health assesments were held and the centre was ready to even transfer striking inmates to external health centres, if required.”
The Ombudsman Office said all detainees were given full rights with regard to their safety, health and cleanliness.
“They are also allowed to shop at a facility at the detention centre,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman Office said it also probed allegations on websites and social media on inmates and detainees, including recent claims about a group at the Dry Dock Detention Centre. Officials visited the centre on November 1 and found that inmates had access to facilities and quality healthcare, the statement added.
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