Prisoners in Maafushi Jail who practice religious extremism, being identified

Maldives Correctional Service is carrying out the identification of incarcerated individuals who practice religious extremism.

While speaking to RaajjeMV, the media officer of Maldives Correctional Services stated that, some new units are currently being built, and that they intend to move inmates with extremist religious beliefs to that unit. Therefore, identifying such inmates has gained utmost importance.

The facility also proclaimed that, in addition to transferring convicts with such beliefs into one unit, programs and different rehabilitative agendas are underway. These programs will be specially aimed towards such individuals.

Police had recently stated that people with such views were involved with the attempted assassination of Speaker and Former President Mohamed Nasheed. Due to this, the rehabilitation of such people is of extreme importance.

Furthermore, improvement of these facilities is in effort, especially by the Home Ministry. Malé and Hulhumalé prisons are also included in this improvement.

According to Commissioner of Prisons, Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu, the Malé and Hulhumalé Prisons will be combined and upon commencing operation, it will be the biggest prison in the region. He added that remanded individuals, women and children will also be held there.

The commissioner states that this prison will also facilitate detainees. Since the transfer of convicts’ time and time again has become an issue, it is said that this issue would be solved with the new prison.

The new facility will also comprise of a special block for accommodating prison employees.

This prison is presumed to open in 2022.