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Khan Ali, Pakistan "The situation at this antiquated crowded jail is worse than torture"

[Afghanistan] As a result of insufficient rooms in Kabul Walayat prison, over 40 prisoners are staying in rooms originally built to accommodate only ten people. IRIN
Overcrowding and poor sanitation add to the misery of those awaiting trial.
    KABUL

    Khan Ali's story

    "My name is Khan Ali and I am a 44 year-old businessman. I was charged with fraud and brought to Kabul's Walayat prison more than ten months ago. I have been waiting since then, but so far I do not know what the future holds. Trial delays are one of the very serious concerns of all the prisoners here.

    "The condition of the prison is too poor. I have to wait for ages in a long queue before I can get to the toilet. In fact, the situation at this antiquated crowded jail is worse than torture. We are not beaten or tortured but inadequate toilets lack of health care, inadequate bedding and food are themselves a continuous form of torture that we have to suffer every day.

    "There are over five hundred prisoners in this small building, which is built only for less than two hundred. We are 59 people in one cell. Some of us have no beds. We have no basic facilities, no ambulance, no proper medicine nor health care. We are not provided with any means of vocational training or something to educate us here. I have been very depressed since I came to prison. We have people waiting more than ten years here without going to trial. There are many young boys in here, as well, all in one cell.

    "We used to be visited by our families twice a week, but now the government has decreased it to once a week and with the limited spare for a visiting area, sometimes it is totally impossible to see my family. Every day of prison seems like hundreds of years."

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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