Families, lawyers confirm prison hunger strike; authorities say unaware

Although Maldives Correctional Service maintains that they are not aware that inmates of Unit 11 (Extremist Unit) of Maafushi Prison are on a hunger strike over denial of two meals, the lawyers and families of some of the inmates have said they have received the information.

It has been five days since inmates of Maafushi Prison's Extremist Unit went on a hunger strike. At the same time, a reliable source informed Atoll Times that the prison was shifting these people to cells with mentally ill inmates.

The lawyers and families of some of the prisoners assured Atoll Times on the hunger strike after Maldives Correctional Service had told Atoll Times on Sunday that they were not aware any inmates had gone without meals.

"We have not received any information about any inmate not eating. There are concerns in Unit 11 and we are addressing them," Corrections spokesman Aiminath Yusreen Ahmed told Atoll Times.

Lawyer Hamza Latheef spoke to Atoll Times and said that he was able to speak with only one of the inmates he represents in Unit 11. The last time he spoke with the inmate was at 3:03 p.m., Hamza said.

"He told me that the strike started after Wednesday... During the strike, he fell down and was in a very bad condition," Hamza said.

The agitators want to share their grievances directly with Commissioner of Prisons Ahmed Mohamed and Home Minister Imran Abdullah.

"He says he was told this morning that he could meet the CP only if he had breakfast," Hamza said.

Hamza said the inmate who spoke to him was on strike, taking only water and ORS.

A reliable source told Atoll Times that the reasons why the inmates of the extremist unit began their hunger strike were as follows:

Hamza said there were a lot of concerns about various issues such as the distribution of people in the cells and the delay in providing medicines when inmates ask for it.

"Due to all these issues, they were planning to stage a protest in the unit, and getting wind of this, the ESG guards went to the cells one night and searched for things that could be related to the protests. Some people were also injured in the violence that took place. The HRCM is looking into the matter," he said.

"That night, a prison guard said that ESG would take them something to eat. But by 1.30 pm that night, they were still not given food, as per my information."

While Atoll Times has learnt that some people are being shifted with the mentally ill inmates of Maafushi prison to break the strike, Hamza said he had also been informed about it.

Another lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirms that one night’s dinner was denied the prisoners and that their belongings were taken from the cell. He said it was not clear how long after they were returned.

They don't get the full information because, he says, it's difficult to even get slots for the lawyer's meeting.

"Lawyers make requests through corrections' 'e-service portal' to meet detainees. In the past, corrections have sometimes not approved or attended these requests for two days," he said.

He said he came to know about the strike at a meeting he was slotted on Sunday after having applied at the e-service portal.

"I met him this afternoon. Till then, they have surely been on hunger strike. Therefore, a state agency has made a huge lie that it [was not informed about the strike]," the lawyer said.

The family of an inmate in the extremist unit told Atoll Times that the last contact with the detainee was made on Saturday morning.

"At 8.55 am on Saturday, my son called me on an official call. It was a five-minute call given at his request," said Hawwa Esa, explaining what her son had told her.

"Every time I call, I ask him if he’s eaten. That's what I said yesterday, as well and he responded saying 'Mom, Im not eating or drinking, I'm on a hunger strike’,” Hawwa relayed.

"He said he won't eat unless he can meet the CP or the home minister."

Hawwa said that in the last six years, his son had never gone on a strike like this, so she feels that he would go on not eating for three or four days because there were things that seriously needed addressing.

"You wont get what you want, eat and stay," the mother relayed, but said that he wouldnt listen.

She said she was not aware of the reason behind the strike as the phone had to be cut off short at the end of their given time. When she contacted HRCM on Sunday to find out if they had received any such information, she said they had not.

She said that when she informed the HRCM that her son was on a strike, the commission called the prison several times and told her in the evening that they were looking into the matter.

HRCM did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike.

Maafushi jail hunger strike