Local sources stated that the Dry Dock Prison Administration had finally agreed to allow prisoners to enter the outer prison yard, as criticism and complaints about its restrictions and abuses against detainees were heightened, and in an attempt to cover up these violations.
In this context, on Sunday February 9, 2020, it allowed them to go out to the outer prison yard “Fence”, without restrictions including “plastic belts or iron handcuffs” that were impeding their movement.
But, in return, the air conditioners are still operating at a very cold level, and the water heaters do not operate for the showers, so the detainees are forced to shower in very cold water in the winter.
The so-called “National Institution for Human Rights” had claimed that it was acquainted with what some social media circulated regarding the “claims” of some of the detainees of the Dry Dock prison that they get out for sitting under sun with handcuffs.
It mentioned that it received a call by one of the detainees, who said that the time of sun’s exposure was reduced, pointing out that it visited the Dry Dock prison, and conducted an investigation on this matter.
It stated that “As a part of its human rights commitment, and based on its oversight role and terms of obligations under the law, to conducting public and unannounced field visits, it immediately made a visit to the Reserve Prison of Dry Dock, through what it had seen during the visit to the prison, and after conducting a number of personal interviews with some of the detainees separately , it was clear to it that these claims and what was circulated through social media are groundless”, according to its statement.
The allegations of the National Institution for Human Rights come in response to what was reported by some media, quoting local sources regarding complaints of detainees in the “Dry Dock Prison”, of being handcuffed and shackled with plastic belts during the sun’s exposure period in the prison yard.
