Michigan - The American Center for Justice (ACJ) said that the state of tension witnessed in the central prison in “Shabuh-Ataq” between inmates and the security forces raises its concern, especially after watching a videofootage showing a soldier shooting directly at prison inmates, which wounded others with varying injuries.

The (ACJ) viewed several videos sent by prisoners from inside the central prison, which showed a number of security personnel assigned to guard the prison firing live bullets some prisoners, in addition to using tear gas shells and spraying them with water, which resulted in dozens of injuries. A videofootage showed an inmate suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest, while the prison administration refused to transfer him to the hospital, according to what one of the inmates mentioned in the video in a clear threat to the lives of inmates and an unjustified violation of the protection rules assigned to prisoner. 

The ACJ isn't sure what caused the state of tension in the central prison, but some sources attributed the main reason to security personnel trying to take away cell phones from prisoners, which was rejected by the inmates who confirmed they were allowed to have cell phones by the prison director.

The Center points out that the attacks committed by security personnel working inside the prison and the prison administration’s silence regarding the condemnable and unjustified behavior show the administration’s approval of these attacks instead of providing full protection and care to the inmates.

The American Center for Justice (ACJ) calls on the administration of the central prison and the senior executive authorities in Shabwa Governorate to assume their legal responsibilities and intervene immediately in order to calm the situation inside the prison, stop the tension urgently, and bring those involved in the attacks, especially the incident of killing the two inmates, to criminal justice, and ensure the provision of basic requirements for inmates in accordance with the relevant legal and customary rules.