Over 10,000 persons imprisoned nationwide: Mawlavi Mestari

KABUL (Pajhwok): Around 11,000 persons, including 1,150 women have been imprisoned nationwide, an official said on Sunday.

Mawlavi Mohammad Yousuf Mestari, head of the Jails Regulation Authority (JRA), told reporters here currently, there are 10,000 to 11,000 convicted prisoners in prisons across Afghanistan, among whom there are 1,000 women and 700 to 800 minors.

He also said that 150 foreign prisoners, many of whom belong to neighboring countries, are in the country's prisons on charges of various crimes such as forgery and fraud.

Mawlavi Mestari said from 10,000 to 12,000 people have been detained and are waiting for their trial. The term "prisoner" has not been applied to them and they are waiting.

In 24 hours, 120 afs is spent on a male prisoner, 150 afs on a women prisoner, and 165 Afghanis on women with child in different forms..

He added that these daily prisoners are given contemporary, vocational, religious and Quran training by ulemas, reciters and scholars.

The JRA head rejected the torture and harassment of prisoners in Afghan prisons and added that there are no tools and places of torture in prisons.

He added that Bagram prison is reopened and this prison is one of the biggest prisons in the country.

According to him, this prison has been handed over to intelligence officials and work on facilities, cleaning and other matters has started and a number of prisoners have also been transferred there.

Mawlavi Mestari said they prepared a team for administrative and logistical work at Bagram Prison, but there is no information about the number of prisoners, their condition and other matters.

He said the JRA was independent institutions comprised of 11,000 military and civilian personnel.

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