Prisoners on hunger strike in Maafushi Prison
The families of the prisoners allege that the strike began over discrimination against five prisoners in the unit.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
The Maldives Human Rights and Detainee Watch (MHRD) has called on the government to end discrimination against some prisoners in Unit 10 of Maafushi Prison.
The association said in a statement that the families of the prisoners in Unit 10 of Maafushi Prison have been submitting complaints to the association regarding the hunger strike that has been going on for three days, protesting against discrimination among the prisoners in the unit.
The families of the prisoners allege that the strike began over discrimination against five prisoners in the unit.
Family alleges reason for strike:
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The five prisoners were not taken out of their cells at the stipulated times as other prisoners are taken out under the rules
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The prisoners are being held in isolated cells for long periods of time
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They are not given the opportunity to participate in the rehabilitation programs available to other prisoners
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A young man who has been ordered to be held in juvenile detention is being held in solitary confinement in the unit
The statement said that the association has observed that the prisoners in the unit have now stopped eating the prison food and the corrections department is meeting with the prisoners to resolve the issue.
The statement called for the elimination of discrimination and ensuring the rights of prisoners, adding that the culture of discrimination should be eliminated as it deprives some of their rights and exposes them to injustice. They also called for immediate action to be taken against the isolation of a person who should be detained in a juvenile detention centre.
