II. Detention Conditions
Current and former Pakistani detainees in Saudi jails and prisons as well as family
members of current detainees recounted poor prison conditions ranging from
overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and a lack of adequate healthcare.
Overcrowding and Unsanitary Conditions
Former Pakistani inmates said that during their detentions at various detention facilities
they experienced overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.
Ghulam
uraiman Prison:
It was overcrowded and the conditions of the prison were deplorable. Often
there was no availability of water for days and there was no proper
sewerage system. The bathrooms were so unhygienic and filthy that we
dreaded using them. There was no access to sunlight and prisoners
developed different diseases, especially skin-related. Many prisoners had
fallen into depression because of stress.33
According to Ejaz, the detention facility in Jazan province where he served his sentence
was extremely overcrowded. He said that the facility had a capacity for 200-250 detainees,
but actually contained closer to 500. He also said that he had to share a bed with other
prisoners, taking turns sleeping. This forced some detainees to have to stay awake at night
and sleep during the day.34
Fahad recounted a similar experience during his time at a detention facility in Jeddah:
Prisoners slept on the floor and had no blankets. Many used to rip apart the mattress
covers and used it as a blanket. The prison cell was almost four marlas [approximately 100
square meters] large and contained around 100 prisoners
He also said that many
prisoners he saw were suffering from skin diseases because of poor hygiene.35
33
Justice Project Pakistan interview with Ghulam, Faisalabad, November 17, 2015.
34
Justice Project Pakistan interview with Ejaz, Faisalabad, November 10, 2015.
35
Justice Project Pakistan interview with Fahad, Gujranwala, November 12, 2015.
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MARCH 2018