MCS Denies Hunger Strike Claims in Maafushi Jail
The Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has denied claims that inmates at Maafushi Jail are on a hunger strike.
In a statement addressing the allegations, MCS said, “Although some procedural changes have been made to strengthen security in jails, no inmates or detainees under the custody of MCS have been deprived of basic services and amenities.”
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The statement also clarified that while some inmates at Maafushi Jail “sometimes” refuse meals provided by the prison, they have been consuming food purchased from the prison’s shop.
ޖަލުތަކުގެ ސަލާމަތާއި ރައްކާތެރިކަން ކަށަވަރުކުރުމަށާއި މަސައްކަތްތައް ހަރުދަނާކުރުމުގެ ގޮތުން ބައެއް އުޞޫލުތަކަށް ބަދަލުގެނެވުނު ނަމަވެސް، މި ސަރވިސްގެ ބެލުމުގެ ދަށުގައިވާ ޤައިދީންނާއި ބަންދުމީހުންނަށް ލިބެންޖެހޭ އެއްވެސް އަސާސީ ޢިނާޔަތެއް، ޚިދުމަތެއް އުނިކުރެވިފައެއް ނުވޭ. 1/3— Maldives Correctional Service (@CorrectionsMv) January 9, 2025
“No inmate has been hospitalised or required special treatment due to this,” the statement added.
The response from MCS came after social media posts claimed that a group of inmates in Units 2 and 4 were on hunger strike and had been hospitalised as a result.
When contacted by MV+, MCS declined to reveal details of the exact “procedural changes” that have been made, citing reasons to maintain prison security.
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) also addressed the situation, posting on X today that it was in discussions with MCS and the inmates to monitor and assess the claims.
މާފުށީ ޖަލުގައި ހިނގަމުންދާ ބަނޑުހައި ހޫނުކަމުގެ ހަޅުތާލު ކޮމިޝަންގެ ސަމާލުކަމަށް އައުމާއިއެކު މޯލްޑިވްސް ކަރެކްޝަނަލް ސަރވިސްއިން މައުލޫމާތު ސާފުުކޮށް ގައިދީންނާއި ބަންދުގައި ތިބި މީހުންނާ ވާހަކަ ދައްކާ ހާލަތު މޮނިޓަރ ކުރުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް ދަނީ ކުރަމުންނެވެ.— HRC of the Maldives (@hrcmv) January 9, 2025
Speaking to MV+, Aminath Yusreen Ahmed, the spokesperson for MCS, confirmed that two inmates had reported feeling weak but assured that their vitals were stable after being examined by a doctor.
Yusreen reiterated that the inmates were not on hunger strike, as they were occasionally eating meals provided by the prison and also consuming food bought from the prison’s shop.
She emphasised that MCS was engaging with the inmates to address their concerns and affirmed that no basic services, including food, had been denied. Yusreen noted that MCS was collaborating with HRCM to resolve the issue.
