Female Detainees at Damoun Prison Endure Brutal Conditions, Reports Palestinian Prisoners Commission
The Palestinian Prisoners Commission has raised alarming concerns about the worsening treatment of female detainees at the Zionist Damoun Prison, describing their conditions as increasingly brutal. According to a statement released following a recent visit by the Commission’s lawyer, female prisoners continue to face harsh and inhumane conditions that violate their basic rights.
The prison administration has been accused of denying detainees essential winter clothing and blankets, despite the cold weather setting in. Each detainee is only provided with a single winter coat, leaving them vulnerable to the winter chill. Basic hygiene items, such as shampoo, are severely restricted, with each prisoner receiving only a small packet, which is insufficient to meet their needs. The food provided is also reportedly inadequate and of poor quality. For over seven months, detainees have been forced to subsist on legumes, causing significant health issues, including constipation.
The Commission also revealed disturbing reports of mistreatment by prison guards, who have reportedly stormed the prisoners’ rooms without regard for their privacy, confiscating personal belongings, and using gas sprays inside the cells. Detainees have also been subjected to collective punishment and verbal abuse. In an alarming escalation, the Deputy Director of Damoun Prison has been accused of physically assaulting several female detainees.
Health conditions are another major concern, with prisoners reluctant to seek medical care due to the administration’s practice of interrogating them instead of providing proper treatment. Furthermore, the prison authorities have added plastic barriers on the cell doors, further isolating the detainees from one another and limiting their ability to communicate. These actions, according to the Commission, contribute to the extreme psychological and physical toll on the women held in Damoun Prison.
The Commission’s report calls for immediate attention to the dire situation and for international pressure to address these violations of human rights.
