Yemen’s public prosecutor visits Al Mansoura prison

Concern about conditions in the prison has prompted oversight from Yemeni officials

The Yemeni government has stepped up its oversight of the central prison in Aden. Stephen Lock / The National

Ali Ahmed Al Aa'wash, Yemen’s public prosecutor, visited on Wednesday the central prison in Aden also known as Al Mansoura, directing a faster pace for investigations and prosecution and urging respect for the prisoners’ rights.

Mr Al Aa'wash's visit, as reported by Yemeni media, was for the purpose of “looking into the situation inside of the [Al Mansoura] prison and the problems that are encountering its administration.”

The prosecutor was briefed by the head of the criminal division in Aden and the management of the prison on the current situation. Reports about notorious conditions in the prison and harsh tactics used with Al Qaeda detainees in Al Mansoura earlier this year has prompted oversight from Yemeni government into its management.

_______________

Read more:

_______________

The prosecutor directed Al Mansoura’s administration “to speed up the investigations and cases of those [who] are detained on terrorism charges” as well as those “whose cases were received by the general prosecution and [whose] investigation is underway”. Mr Al Aa'wash emphasised the need to protect the legal rights of a prisoner in both investigation and trial.

He also urged the members of the prosecution to “do their part in overseeing the prisons and the legitimacy of jailing”. In that context, Mr Al Aa'wash called for respect and full adherence to Yemen’s prison law.

At the same time, the Yemeni official instructed the prisons’ administrations not to arrest or release anyone without a court order from the general prosecution. He also voiced hope in return of judicial proceedings in all the liberated provinces in Yemen.

On this visit, Mr Al Aa'wash was accompanied by security officials and members from the general prosecution.