Justice Minister Announces Closure of Section 4 of Nafha Prison
In response to a letter sent by Adalah on 13 March 2012, the Israeli Justice Minister announced that Palestinian prisoners were moved out of Section 4 of Nafha Prison, and that the section was shut down.
The letter, received by Adalah on 31 July 2012, stated that following Adalah’s urgent letter WHEN, the Justice Ministry sent a lawyer to assess the conditions in the prison section, and to examine the allegations made by Adalah. “The lawyer found that the section was overcrowded, lacked ventilation, and was poorly maintained compared to other sections,” the Justice Minister’s letter noted. It added that the Israel Prison Service (IPS) has evacuated prisoners out of the section in order to begin renovations.
In response to a letter sent by Adalah on 13 March 2012, the Israeli Justice Minister announced that Palestinian prisoners were moved out of Section 4 of Nafha Prison, and that the section was shut down.
The letter, received by Adalah on 31 July 2012, stated that following Adalah’s urgent letter, the Justice Ministry sent a lawyer to assess the conditions in the prison section, and to examine the allegations made by Adalah. “The lawyer found that the section was overcrowded, lacked ventilation, and was poorly maintained compared to other sections,” the Justice Minister’s letter noted. It added that the Israel Prison Service (IPS) has evacuated prisoners out of the section in order to begin renovations.
Adalah submitted a letter to the IPS Director and the Minister of Public Security demanding that they reconsider the transfer of Palestinian "security prisoners" to Section 4 of Nafha Prison and to close the prison wing. Conditions in Section 4 are so squalid, Adalah Attorney Rima Ayoub-Assaf argued, that they endanger prisoners' health and constitute cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment.
Adalah’s letter described the walls in the wing as covered with wet patches and mold, with windows that do not permit sunlight to enter or the air to circulate. The rooms are infested with cockroaches and insects, to the point that the prisoners’ sleeping mattresses are full of bugs and stink putridly.
In addition, the prison is unbearably overcrowded, with ten prisoners in a room that does not exceed 25 square meters, or 2.5 square meters per prisoner, far below internationally accepted standards. Closet space is insufficient, forcing prisoners to keep their clothing and belongings on the floor, further decreasing the available space. Toilets are not separate from the rest of the bathroom, making their use embarrassing and awkward. As the prisoners in Section 4 are classified as "security prisoners", they are only permitted short recreation breaks in a small courtyard, which itself is not large enough for exercise.
