➡️➡️PRISONERS at the Dry Dock Detention Centre in Hidd yesterday ended their hunger strike. The Ombudsman General Secretariat said in a statement it had assigned a team of investigators to visit the centre and meet the prisoners. The investigators inspected the facilities and listened to officials. According to the statement, investigation showed there were five reasons that led to the strike, including abuse by prison guards, complaints regarding a glass barrier between inmates and their visitors, demands to improve health care, demands to replace the current air conditioning units with new ones and provide them with washing machines. The investigators issued recommendations to the detention centre to meet the demands according to legal procedures. The secretariat said the centre management had swiftly implemented some of the recommendations. It improved health care services, repaired and installed new air conditioning units and provided inmates with washing machines. Regarding the glass barrier, the statement said it was part of safety rules to prevent smuggling of illegal goods inside the prison that could damage prisoners health. The secretariat pledged to find solutions to improve communication between prisoners and their visitors. Meanwhile, the General Secretariat has started an investigation into the health status of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, who has been on hunger strike at the Reform and Rehabilitation Centre (RRC) in Jaw, from August 25. In a statement, it said the inmate had sent a letter to the RRC management in which he said he would continue the strike until he is released. An investigator visited him to check on his health and ensure the availability of medical care. Examination showed that he had visited the RRC doctor 17 times since he started the strike.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:05:57 +0000