The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has cited a report it issued in July to refute allegations of abuse in the Kingdom’s prisons, saying it has consistently monitored all aspects of prison life to ensure healthy living conditions and safeguard detainee rights, according to regulations.

Bandar Al-Aiban, president of the HRC, thanked Prince Mohammed bin Naif and the Ministry of Interior for their ongoing role in improving the conidtion of prisoners at the HRC’s council meeting, which was held on Monday.

He also expressed his appreciation for the ministry’s efforts in providing rehabilitation services to the detainees and allowing increased family visiting hours.

“Among the most important improvements initiated by the ministry is the recent launch of a unique portal called “Nafidat Tuwsal” (a window for communication), which allows prisoners to communicate and correspond with their families abroad,” Al-Aiban said, adding that it is vital that families are made aware of this service so they can make use of it.

He conveyed the HRC’s appreciation of the Ministry of Interior’s cooperation and their efforts in opening specialized offices in a number of jails. These offices are responsible for logging prisoner’s details electronically, including the date of arrest, charges, release date etc. Plans are under way for the establishment of such offices in prison facilities across the Kingdom to provide a comprehensive and electronically linked prison network system for the first time.

“The creation of an “e-prison network” will be beneficial for the government, the prisons and the detainees, as it will reduce paperwork and allow officers to gain access to a prisoner or suspected criminal’s file in seconds,” Al-Aiban explained.

He concluded by saying introducing these reforms in all the Kingdom’s prison facilities will also be beneficial for the HRC as it would allow the organization to streamline communication and pinpoint the specific human rights needs of prisoners in order to quickly respond to their demands.