In handwritten letters, Opposition Leader alleges human rights violations at Lusignan prison 

Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has raised a series of concerns about the conditions under which he and other inmates are being held in Building Five of the Lusignan Prison, alleging excessive heat, inadequate ventilation, restricted access to religious services, limited recreation and prolonged confinement.

The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party yesterday shared hand-written letters by Mohamed from inside the prison dated November 4 in which he described the building as a place where the human rights of inmates are being violated. 

Among his complaints are the absence of fans in cells, continuous lighting that inmates cannot switch off, limited access to family members and restrictions on movement, with inmates allegedly spending 23 hours and 50 minutes each day locked in their cells.

Mohamed, who was remanded to prison on October 30, said the building is fully enclosed, with no windows through which inmates can look outside, and that the heat generated by large lights in the cells makes it difficult to sleep. He said that smoke from a nearby dumpsite also enters the building, further affecting the air quality and making the already hot conditions difficult to endure.

He also raised concerns about the manner in which inmates are fed, stating that meals are passed through small openings measuring approximately eight inches by six inches in their cell doors, preventing them from eating together with other prisoners.

On access to sanitary facilities, Mohamed said that inmates are permitted only two showers daily, each lasting approximately five minutes, and are required to wear handcuffs and foot shackles while being escorted to the bathing area. He further said that the bathing area is monitored by cameras and guarded by two armed prison officers, leaving inmates without privacy. He also complained that the water is excessively hot during afternoon showers.

The Opposition Leader further questioned the restrictions governing family visits and telephone communication, stating that inmates are permitted visits only on Saturdays for a maximum of 20 minutes, while outgoing telephone calls are limited to one five-minute call weekly. He said incoming calls are restricted to two per month, lasting five minutes each, and that both visits and telephone calls take place in the same building with officers listening while inmates remain handcuffed and shackled.

Mohamed further complained about the absence of clocks in the building, arguing that this makes it difficult for Muslim inmates to determine prayer times. He added that no religious leaders are permitted to enter Building Five and that Muslim inmates are prevented from attending Friday Jumaah prayers in other sections of the Lusignan Prison, despite Imams visiting those buildings to lead prayers. He also said that inmates are not provided with halaal meals.

On recreation, Mohamed said inmates are permitted only two sessions monthly, lasting approximately 15 minutes each. He alleged that the eight inmates previously housed in the building had gone more than three months without playing table tennis because there were no balls available.

According to him, inmates were previously brought out individually, while handcuffed and shackled, and made to stand for the duration of their 15-minute recreation period. He said that on November 4, inmates were finally allowed to play table tennis indoors with prison officers, following the provision of balls.

Mohamed also raised concerns about the treatment of other prisoners, alleging that prison officers search cells twice daily without wearing gloves and that inmates are shackled when being escorted to the shower facilities.

He said that 17 inmates were transferred out of Building Five approximately three hours before he was brought there on October 30, leaving him as the only prisoner on the upper floor.

He questioned whether prison officials had prior knowledge of his impending remand and said that the cell to which he was assigned had not been sanitised before his arrival.

Mohamed was remanded alongside Police Constable Ryan Greene on a charge under Section 9 of the Cybercrime Act relating to the alleged unauthorised access to and disclosure of protected electronic data.

The Guyana Prison Service has previously rejected allegations that Mohamed is being subjected to inhumane or degrading treatment, maintaining that his detention arrangements are based on his classification as a high-profile prisoner and the security requirements of the institution.

The Prison Service said Mohamed had been medically assessed, seen by a welfare officer and provided with access to family members and attorneys. It also said officials had adjusted the fan serving his cell area following a request from him.

The Prison Service subsequently released records of his activities on October 31 and November 1, stating that on the latter day he spent approximately nine hours and 20 minutes outside his holding area. Those records included a welfare counselling session, telephone calls, an attorney visit and a medical assessment.

The Prison Service also said that during a visit by the Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, on November 1, Mohamed indicated that he had no complaints.

Source: Kiskadee Watch