HRW warns against COVID-19 outbreaks in UAE jails
Human Rights Watch has warned against reported outbreaks of the novel coronavirus in a number of detention facilities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), calling on prison authorities to take urgent measures to protect the mental and physical health of prisoners.
“Crowded, unsanitary prison conditions and widespread denial of adequate medical care are nothing new in the UAE’s notorious detention facilities, but the ongoing pandemic is an additional serious threat to prisoners’ well-being,” said Michael Page, Middle East deputy director at the New York-based organization, on Wednesday.
“The best way for UAE authorities to allay concerns of prisoners’ family members is to allow inspection by independent, international monitors.”
HRW emphasized that all the prisons in the Arab country should enable prisoners to engage in social distancing, in accordance with the guidelines set for the general population, without resorting to punitive conditions that resemble solitary confinement.
Prison authorities should further reduce jail populations, ensure that any detainee has safe access to family and legal counsel, put in place appropriate hygiene and cleaning protocols, and provide training and supplies such as masks, sanitizers, and gloves to reduce the risk of further infection, the rights organization said.
They should promptly allow independent international monitors to enter the country and regularly monitor prison and detention facilities, HRW said.
“UAE authorities should be forthright about what’s going on and move quickly to avoid a wider spread of the virus that could put the lives of prisoners at serious risk,” Page said.
On Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention announced 528 new cases of infection with novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 39,904.
The ministry said in a statement that the new cases are all in stable condition and receiving medical treatment.
It added that 465 more patients have fully recovered from the deadly disease, taking the tally of recoveries to 22,740.
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