A top official from the Ministry of Social Affairs has rejected accusations that the ministry had tried to cover up problems at a women's correctional facility here by transferring outspoken inmates to other institutions. Dr. Abdullah Al-Yusuf, Undersecretary of Social Affairs at the ministry, was speaking in the wake of a preliminary report from the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution last week that found members of the facility's administration had tried to silence inmates by transferring them to other facilities. The women inmates had allegedly rioted at the facility in protest at living conditions which included lack of access to medical care, no family visits, solitary confinement and physical beatings. The ministry had conducted its own investigation, and produced a report which was handed over to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the Emir of Makkah. “The ministry did not move the inmates to Mars. They are still within the country's territory,” said Al-Yusuf. About the decision to transfer the women inmates, he said: “Some people misinterpreted our intention and we don't blame them for this because they were not aware of what is going on at the correctional facility. The inmates who were transferred to other homes were those who had completed their terms, so they were not supposed to be at the correctional facility. Moreover, the ministry did this to reduce overcrowding at the home,” he said. Al-Yusuf was adamant that the decision taken by the ministry to transfer the women was appropriate. “The decision taken by the ministry to transfer the women was an initial procedure. We thought we would be thanked for this action but instead they have viewed it as a negative step.” He said the inmates should have been transferred a long time ago because they had completed their terms, however many of their families did not want them back. He urged families to take back their relatives. “Because they are women, the ministry thought it wise not to throw them onto the street just because their families refused to take them back. We consider these women our daughters and feel we should look after them.” He said 100 women inmates, from facilities across the Kingdom, have been rejected by their families. He said he expected the women's families to take them back if they have completed their terms. “The directives in this regard are clear, so we expect guardians to accept their daughters and to treat them kindly.” He defended the ministry's handling of the entire matter. “We are human beings and not idealists. If we feel that we are not shouldering our responsibility properly we will withdraw quietly,” he said. He said that the ministry would take strong action - including transfers and expulsion - if any staff member of the facility was involved in any wrongdoing. However, he said no decision had yet been taken in this regard. In the meantime, the ministry was striving to overcome any shortcomings at the facility. Earlier, Prince Khaled was given a briefing by Social Affairs officials, including Al-Yusuf, Dr. Ali Al-Hinaki, Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah and another ministry official Noora Aal Al
