A NUMBER of female inmates housed in the General Intelligence Prison in Al-Hayer refuted recent allegations that female detainees at the prison were not being provided with the health services they need. Al-Riyadh newspaper visited the prison recently with an official delegation to investigate the claims.

 

Inmate Bahia Al-Rushoodi shares the women’s section of the prison with 11 other female inmates, the majority of whom are Saudis.

 

Al-Rushoodi, who has been detained for the past six months, appeared in good health during the visit by a women’s delegation comprising Shoura Council members and academics from three universities in the Kingdom.

She refuted claims that inmates were being tortured and said prison guards and officials were accommodating.

 

Granted permission for an interview, Al-Rushoodi talked about the circumstances that led to her arrest and that of her son and the charges against them. Both mother and son were accused of incitement and printing and distributing propaganda material.

 

Al-Riyadh interviewed four other inmates in the prison. Two inmates from an African country confirmed Al-Rushoodi’s account of life in the prison. Both women said they enjoy all their rights in the prison despite their involvement in several security-related criminal cases. Both women are under trial and they are awaiting a verdict to be issued in their cases soon.

 

The delegation asked to meet the female detainee Amina Al-Rashed but she declined the request.

 

Al-Riyadh interviewed Mai Al-Talq who has been in the prison for nine months. She claimed that she has been prevented from seeing her children and that she suffered a hemorrhage two months ago and she was not provided medical care. However, according to her hospital file and visitation records, the allegations were proven to be untrue. Al-Talq’s official visitation record showed that she saw her children every week and doctors said it was Al-Talq who refused treatment.

 

According to her arrest record, which was provided to the delegation, Al-Talq had had previous run-ins with the law.

 

Al-Talq and her children were arrested in the Saudi-Yemeni border region along with three men from Yemen. The men were trying to smuggle Al-Talq and her children into Yemen so she could join Al-Qaeda in Yemen.

 

The women’s detention facility has a carpeted room that has three mattresses, a blanket, pillows, a TV set showing several channels and trays containing juices, milk, soft drinks and meals. The detention room also has a bathroom with a separate door and two showers. Each inmate is given her own toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and towel. The women are allowed to bring all the clothes they need.

 

The women’s detention facility is a separate section fully supervised by well-trained female staff. It is colored in pink indicating the place is for females. The General Intelligence Prison in Al-Hayer has integrated services including a central hospital, a family house, classrooms, libraries and rooms for conjugal visits.

 

Al-Riyadh also visited the offices of several governmental and non-governmental agencies in the prison where inmates can avail of various services. The offices include the Human Rights Commission, National Society for Human Rights, Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, Supervision of Prisons branch, Civil Affairs, National Commercial Bank, Passport Department, notaries public, Ministry of Justice, General Organization for Social Insurance and the Ministry of Social Affairs.