KABUL (SW): The Integrity Watch Afghanistan has noted in its latest report that the state of prisons in Afghanistan remain inhuman despite, millions of dollars spent.
Sayed Ikram Afzali, Executive Director of Integrity Watch Afghanistan, said that among other problems the Pol-i-Charkhi, Baghlan and Wardak prisons have more than double numbers of prisoners than the capacity. He added that a number of prisoners are deprived of their rights and not even allowed to meet their relatives visiting them.
The IWA report has stated that the Pol-i-Charkhi prison has the capacity to host up to 5000 prisoners, but it has up to 10,000 inmates, the Wardak prison has the capacity to host no more than 225 prisoners, but it has now more than 450, and the prison in Baghlan has the capacity of only around 400 prisoners, but it has now more than 700 prisoners now.
“Contracted companies, monitors of the U.S. and Afghan governments are key players having a role in corruption and embezzlement in Pol-i-Charki, Baghlan and Wardak prisons.” he added.
Lailama Nasiri, head of the Afghanistan Justice Organization (AJO), said on the occasion that the women and children inmates are particularly vulnerable to abuses and even sexual assaults behind bars. Abdul Aleem Kohistani, director for prisons at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), said on the occasion that there are no threats of the prisons collapsing. He, however, acknowledged that the prisons are overstretched in terms of the number of inmates.
The IWA has recommended to the government and donors to coordinate planning, monitoring and inspections of the prisons.
ENDS
