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Cell inmates’ safety is under threat: cop

DUBAI — The recurring incidents of violence between inmates in Dubai's detention centres and prisons have turned the spotlight on the safety of prisoners and their human rights. Three incidents of this kind in as many months have exposed the lack of security measures adopted by the Corrective and Punitive establishment to guarantee the safety of prison inmates and staff.

Narrating one of the incidents, Major Aref Baqer, Deputy Director of the Dubai Police Human Rights Department, stated yesterday that a dispute broke out between two inmates at the Bur Dubai Police station. Amid the arguments, a 25-year-old inmate hit a 50-year-old Syrian prisoner with his fist leading to a big fight. The relatives of the Syrian inmate pleaded that he be treated urgently in one of the city's private hospitals at their expense. The department swung into action sending the prisoner to the American Hospital in Dubai and later to the Welcare hospital where he is under treatment at present. His condition is stated to be stable.

The department has initiated legal action against the assailant responding to the request made by the sons of the injured inmate. The General Advocate, Head of Public Prosecution, has been asked to find a way to help the injured who stands sentenced on charges of issuing a dud cheque of Dh12 million.

The second incident involved a 28-year-old Pakistani prisoner, Meer Salam Khan who allegedly stabbed to death an Afghan national Mirza Abdul Ahad in prison. On July 11, the Dubai Police received information about the crime and rushed to the prison only to find that the victim had died three hours before due to severe injuries and bleeding. Meer was engaged in a sport when Mirza teased and beat him in front of his friends. Meer swore he would take revenge. Armed with a sharpened piece of metal, he allegedly stabbed Mirza inside the dining room on July 31 after sneaking up behind him.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty. The trial of the accused was scheduled on August 24 but on July 31 the prison officials found him dead. The prosecution report stated that the accused had committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope in his cell. The medical report said that there were no signs of assault on the body and the accused appeared to have killed himself. Investigation by officials revealed that the prison cameras were not working then.

The third incident, which occurred last August, involved a pharmacist working in a prison. Two prisoners had beaten and locked him in a bathroom and confiscated drugs from the prison pharmacy. He was lucky that some passers-by released him.

These incidents should serve as a wake-up call to the authorities who should seriously reconsider the cases of people held at undisclosed locations. They should ensure that international humanitarian law and Geneva convention are complied with to ensure humane treatment to prisoners and safeguard their health. Prisons should be equipped with advanced cameras to constantly monitor the inmates. Those convicted on minor charges should be kept in separate cells or rooms and totally isolated from high-risk criminals.