Escalation of Abuses Against Detainees in “Abu Zعبل 2 and 4,” Denial of Food, and Tightening of Visits

Escalation of Abuses Against Detainees in “Abu Zعبل 2 and 4,” Denial of Food, and Tightening of Visits

Al‑Shehab Human Rights Center has documented testimonies that point to a systematic escalation in arbitrary restriction measures imposed on detainees and their families inside the “Abu Zعبل 2 and 4” prisons. This constitutes a serious violation of the basic rights guaranteed to inmates under national legislation and international covenants.

Details of the documented abuses:

Undermining detainees’ food security: prison management imposed strict limits by reducing what may be brought into each meal to only one meal per visit, in complete disregard of the extreme overcrowding inside the cells (which ranges from 30 to 60 detainees per room). The groups rely on weekly mutual support among families to secure adequate food.

Arbitrary ban on external provisioning: the continued prohibition on bringing canned foods and storing long‑shelf‑life food items, under the pretext that they are available in the prison “canteen,” despite the actual verification that the canteen is devoid of these essential supplies.

Punitive measures and restricting the movement of families: the latest escalation was linked to direct decisions issued by prison security leadership (Major Sharif Hamada and the investigations officer Luai). Visit bags were returned without food, followed by the forced detention of detainees’ families inside the visitation hall from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. They were also threatened with arrest to prevent them from leaving after their peaceful protest demanding to meet with officials.

And Al‑Shehab Human Rights Center calls for

Immediate investigation: the Public Prosecutor and the Community Protection Sector at the Ministry of Interior to open an urgent, independent investigation into the reported incidents and hold those responsible accountable for these violations.

Guaranteeing the right to food: the immediate suspension of all arbitrary decisions related to preventing the bringing of food, and adherence to the minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners.

Facilitating family visits: preventing security authorities from practicing intimidation or arbitrary detention against detainees’ relatives, and providing a safe visitation environment that preserves human dignity.

Isolating tools of collective punishment: banning the use of visits and essential needs as a tool for humiliation or collective punishment inside detention centers.

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