126 prisoners of Maafushi jail to be released on parole

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

126 prisoners of Maafushi Jail will be transferred to house arrest today following a Government decision to shift them temporarily to Male to conduct life skills programs and facilitate parole board hearings to decide if they could be released on bail, State Minister of Home Affairs Ahmed Mujuthaba has told Miadhu daily. The prisoners, many of who have been sentenced for drug abuse, have been already interviewed by parole officers of the Home Ministry. They will be under house arrest while in Male except for attending the two 4-day life skills and cognitive behavior therapy programs designed for them. Depending on the decision to be taken by the Parole Board, the prisoners could join the mainstream of society with certain conditions imposed on them. If the Board decides not to give parole opportunity to any of the prisoners he or she will have to go back to complete the prison sentence. Mujuthaba also said prisoners who are sentenced on serious crimes are not included among those to be released on parole and to be considered in a general pardon by the President.

Last Friday a high powered team from the Government comprising of State Minister of Home Affairs Mujuthaba, State Minister of Home Affairs Ahmed Shafeeg, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Naseem, People’s Majlis President’s Member Ahmed Haleem and Vaavu Member Ismail Shihab visited the jail to meet the prisoners and see its conditions. According to Mujuthaba the condition of cells are not satisfactory and they need natural light and ventilation. These are conditions required by the Human Rights Commission. The Government will therefore start work to improve these conditions in the Jail. However, food provided in the jail is reported to be good.

The State Minister has said President Nasheed has been concerned about the welfare and conditions of prisoners and he wants to grant a general amnesty to prisoners. However, the new Constitution does not give this power to the President, and he has already sent a motion to the People’s Majlis seeking its advice along with a guideline regarding the matter.

President Nasheed has immediately after assuming office sent his Special Envoy Ibrahim Hussain Zaki to the Jail to see the state of prisoners and conditions of the Jail. Zaki has promised President Nasheed will be granting a general pardon to prisoners. However, some prisoners have later criticized Zaki saying he has lied to them because of the delay in the release of the prisoners.

National Parole Board Chairman Dr. Abdullah Waheed has said under parole regulations any decision to release a prisoner on parole will have to be considered individually by the Board and decided on merit. The Board will soon start interviewing the 126 prisoners, he said.

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