HRC makes 857 prison visits

 The Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) released its report on the 857 visits it has made to prisons and detention centers across the Kingdom last year.
The commission said that the visits checked whether all prisoners and detainees enjoy all their rights guaranteed to them by Islamic law and the applicable regulations, and the appropriateness of these with international standards.
The number of visits made to general prisons stood at 209; to Mabahith prisons 225; and 398 to detention centers. In addition, the number of visits made to girls’ shelter houses stood at 25.
The commission confirmed it observed overcrowding at these prisons and detention centers with inmate numbers exceeding the allocated capacity; extended periods of investigation exist which exceed the regulatory time in some instances; and some cases are backlogged because of delays in court scheduling.
The commission also noted inadequate health care services provided to prisoners and sought to address this issue and the others in cooperation with the relevant bodies.