Dozens of Pul-i-Charkhi inmates on hunger strike

KABUL (Pajhwok): Dozens of inmates at the notorious Pul-i-Charkhi prison outside Kabul have been denying food over the past two days, an official confirmed on Monday.

While the protesting inmates told Pajhwok over the telephone that hundreds of prisoners had gone on hunger strike because they were denied their rights.

They claimed some of the inmates had their lips sewn after their cases were delayed and presidential decrees were not properly implemented in their favour. They also alleged some detainees remained behind bars despite having served their sentences.

Gen. Mohammad Arif Ahmadi, deputy head of the Central Prison Department at the Ministry of Interior, said about 90 inmates had been on hunger strike since Sunday.

He said a commission had been tasked with investigating the issue and considering legitimate demands of the protesting inmates.

However, he rejected if any inmate had his lips sewn together, saying they were only denying food.

Hundreds of prisons are held at the Pul-i-Charkhi jail, the country’s largest.

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