JEDDAH — A recent study has found that "symbolic violence" is the most prevalent form of violence among female prisoners in Saudi jails. Such violence leads to “feelings of humiliation, abjectness, anxiety and tension” among inmates that drives many to attempt to escape, the study said.
Many inmates suffer physical pain and bruises as a result and some have expressed suicidal thoughts, it said.
“We discovered that a general lack of needs and the inability to satisfy needs are among factors behind spreading violence in the prison environment … because of crowding, poor food, dissatisfaction with the time of food distribution and poor health conditions of the inmates,” said criminologist Basma Abdullah Al-Sinari, the lead author of the study.
Al-Sinari said those who had been convicted of moral crimes were the main perpetrators of violence in prisons, but punishments handed down to inmates had no role in violence among female inmates.
According to the study, female inmates cope with violence by avoiding altercations, replying with aggression to those around them and using praise to avoid violence.
Prison administrations use various methods to limit violence, including solitary confinement, or sessions with a social worker.
The study recommended separate facilities for well behaved inmates, as well as the use of sport, art and education to release prisoners' pent-up energy.
It also suggested prison staff attend courses on minimizing violence in prison environments.
