Top officials of the Maldives Correctional Service have been requested to appear before Parliament following concern over the deteriorating conditions of the country’s prisons and the systematic deprivation of inmates' human rights.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, the Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu), highlighted the growing public concern regarding the state of the nation's correctional facilities.
The letter noted concerns regarding severe overcrowding beyond the prisons' designated capacities, the failure to categorize inmates appropriately, and the lack of adequate medical care provided to those in custody.
Furthermore, the MP raised issues concerning poor general hygiene, the loss of rights due to prolonged pre-trial detention, and the absence of effective rehabilitation programs aimed at steering inmates away from a life of crime.
The letter also detailed difficulties inmates face in purchasing essential items, the substandard quality of food provided, and the administrative hurdles and barriers faced by female inmates in accessing basic necessities.
In his letter, MP Mohamed Ibrahim requested that senior officials from the Maldives Correctional Service be summoned to Parliament to clarify the efforts being made to resolve these issues. He also urged the Speaker to facilitate a visit for members of the relevant parliamentary committee to inspect the prison facilities firsthand.
