As legal consequences develop in the aftermath of last week's riot of women inmates at a correctional facility in Makkah, the director of Social Affairs in the Makkah region said he had nothing to do with it, describing the facility as “deplorable”. “The facility is managed by the women's section at the Ministry of Social Affairs and the ministry has a development plan for it,” said Ali Al-Hinaki. His statement came following allegations that certain officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs are trying to cover up the harsh living conditions at the women's correctional facility in the city by moving witnesses and hiding documents. Inmates claimed they did not have access to proper food, medical care, were often held in solitary confinement and were physically beaten by the women guards. Their complaints, including the physical assaults, were later confirmed by the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR). At least 35 women employees at the facility said that they wanted to be compensated for moral damage incurred following their investigation in connection with the maltreatment of women inmates. Some of the women employees have been suspended from service pending further investigation. The employees have denied allegations raised against them by women inmates. The psychological well-being of women inmates has deteriorated due to the bad treatment of their families, employees said. “Their families have refused to take them back,” one employee said. The employees blamed other government departments for causing the inmates to riot, saying that these departments, which they did not name, failed to tackle the problems of the inmates outside the facility which affected their behavior inside the facility. The situation at the facility returned to normal after the authorities intervened to unite 14 women inmates with their families. Investigation committees have heard the complaints of women inmates who blame the employees for maltreating them. The employees, however, said that they have been left holding the bag after everyone has pointed the finger of accusation at them. “We have been held accountable for the problem even though officials have known about it for a long time,” one employee said. The administration has started work on a new building in the facility in order to move inmates from the current small, dilapidated building as a first response to improving the living conditions of inmates.
