Rights panel demands moving of central jail from residential area – Prison old, dilapidated and no point renovating it: MP

This news has been read 7377 times!

KUWAIT CITY, March 1: The parliamentary Human Rights Committee has demanded for relocation of the Central Prison away from residential area. The committee made this demand during its meeting with the Interior Ministry undersecretary and the assistant undersecretary for prison affairs on Tuesday.

They discussed conditions of the Correctional Institutions Department and assault on former MP Musallam Al-Barrak in jail. Speaking to the press after the meeting, committee member MP Mohamed Hayef stressed the importance of relocating the Central Prison, especially since it was established in the 1960s. He asserted the prison is very old and dilapidated so there is no point in renovating it. He added the committee also called for putting the prison clinic under the supervision of the Health Ministry, instead of the Prison Administration so it becomes autonomous and away from the whims of certain parties.

Talking about the assault on Al- Barrak, Hayef disclosed the committee requested for surveillance camera recordings; as well as the presence of the prison director and supervisor of the Investigation and Facilities Unit in its next meeting and the recorded case number. He went on to say the committee tackled reasons behind the decision to stop the Qur’an program for prisoners, indicating the Interior Ministry officials explained this step was taken in response to the request of the Ministry of Justice and General Prosecutor. He added the committee will ask the justice minister to resume this program because it is important for the reformation of prisoners.

Also, when asked about the smuggling of drugs into prison, the ministry officials attributed this to nearby residential areas while unveiling a plan to establish a new prison, the lawmaker concluded.

Meanwhile, MP Saleh Ashour has asked Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalid Al-Roudan about the non-Kuwaiti advisors in the State Ministry for Youth Affairs and affiliated institutions, their monthly salary and date of appointment. He cited reports published on social media about the replacement of expatriate advisers with Kuwaitis, so he requested the minister to provide him with information about those who were terminated such as the date of termination, salary and appointment date.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 7377 times!