NCIAVHR Investigates Conditions of Detainees in Taiz Central Prison and Criminal Investigation Department

Taiz | July 7, 2024

The National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) conducted a field visit to the Criminal Investigation Department and the Central Prison in Taiz governorate on Sunday. This visit is part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to evaluate the conditions of prisoners and detainees across several governorates.

During the visit, Commission member Judge Ishraq Al-Maqtari and the field team received briefings from the Director of Criminal Investigation, Colonel Sadiq Al-Hassami, and the Director of the Central Prison, Lieutenant Colonel Issam Al-Kamil. These briefings covered the primary needs of the inmates and detainees, particularly regarding social rights and the provision of food, medicine, water, cleanliness, healthcare, and rehabilitation and training programs.

The Commission’s team inspected various sections of the Central Prison, assessing the services provided in light of overcrowding and the large number of inmates. They noted the inadequacy and unsuitability of the current facilities in terms of capacity and the specifications of rooms and sanitary facilities. The team also examined the health conditions of several inmates, who are demanding free medical treatment and the provision of essential and continuous medications to maintain their physical and mental well-being.

Additionally, the team listened to several detainees under investigation and trial, both men and women, documenting their primary demands related to the right to a fair trial and the adjudication of their cases. The detainees also requested adequate food, as many suffer from hunger due to insufficient food supplies.

The Commission reviewed official inmate lists provided by the administration and analyzed data concerning 950 prisoners and detainees in the Central Prison and the Criminal Investigation Department, including 25 women and 18 individuals aged between 17 and 19.