Aït Melloul Prison

Aït Melloul Prison is a prison located in the city of Aït Melloul, near Agadir. It consists of two facilities, the first opened in 2003,[1] while the second was opened in 2016.[2] It is the biggest prison in the Souss-Massa region.

Aït Melloul Local Prison
Satellite photograph of the Aït Melloul 1 (right) and Aït Melloul 2 (left) jails
Aït Melloul Prison is located in Morocco
Aït Melloul Prison
Location in Morocco
LocationAït Melloul, Morocco
Coordinates30.324°N 9.480°W / 30.324; -9.480
StatusOperational
Security classMinimum-maximum
Opened2003 (2003)
Managed byGeneral Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration

History

Construction for the prison began in 2001, before opening in 2003.[1] A second facility was opened in 2016 in order to replace the historical prison in Inezgane.[2][3] In 2018, 5 people were injured, and considerable damage was done after a fire broke out in a hallway, according to local firefighters, the fire was quickly put out.[4]

Criticism and scandals

Prison authorities were criticized during the COVID-19 pandemic for the lack of action to protect prisoners against the virus. A prisoner told Middle East Eye that the prison was "extremely filthy" and noted the "horrible conditions" of the prison.[5] As of May 2020, there were 3 cases of COVID-19 in the prison.[6]

A high-ranking official of the prison was charged with homosexuality and indecency after photos were released on social media of the official having sex with a Tunisian prisoner inside the prison.[7][8]

In 2003, a student from Agadir, Abdelkarim Azzou, was arrested and taken to Aït Melloul Prison. Azzou claimed to be subject to "the cruelest form of torture that can exist" and was forced to sign a false confession, Azzou was detained without a trial for 2 years. Abdelkarim Azzou was sentenced to 20 years in prison for terrorism charges, the sentence was reduced to 12 years on appeal. He started a hunger strike in 2009.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Agadir: La prison locale d'Aït Melloul opérationnelle". L'Economiste. 5 February 2003.
  2. "Ouverture de la nouvelle prison locale "Aït Melloul 2"". Maghreb Arabe Presse.
  3. "DGAPR: TAMEK FERME LA PRISON D'INEZGANE ET OUVRE UNE NOUVELLE À AÏT MELLOUL". Le360.
  4. "PRISON D'AÏT MELLOUL: UN INCENDIE FAIT CINQ BLESSÉS". Le360.
  5. "Coronavirus: Wife of jailed Sahrawi activist calls on Morocco to free political prisoners". Middle East Eye.
  6. "Action Plan of the General Delegation for Prison and Reintegration Administration to address Corona Virus pandemic" (PDF). General Commission for Prison and Reintegration Administration.
  7. "Scandale sexuel à la prison d'Aït Melloul". Bladi.
  8. "POURSUITE EN JUSTICE DU RESPONSABLE DE LA PRISON D'AÎT MELLOUL POUR HOMOSEXUALITÉ". Quid.
  9. "Morocco: Abdelkarim Azzou, tortured in Ait Melloul prison". En.alkarama.org. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
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