Ten detainees stage hunger strike at Jordan prison

AMMAN. August 20. KAZINFORM. At least 10 Islamists, convicted on terrorism charges, were on hunger strike on Wednesday at Juwaideh prison, 30 km south of Amman, officials and human rights activists said; Kazinform refers to Arab News.

Public Security Department spokesman Major Mohammad Khatib said that the inmates were demanding that the authorities relocate them to a different prison, which is against regulations.

He pointed out that the authorities decided to isolate the striking prisoners from other detainees so that they be unable to promulgate their extremist ideas.

However, the Amman-based Arab Organization for Human Rights said that the striking prisoners cited "mistreatment, physical and psychological pressures, bad food and lack of ventilation" in a complaint they filed with the AOHR.

He said that the AOHR planned to send a letter to the Prime Minister Nader Dahabi and head of the Public Security Department asking for a permission to visit the striking prisoners and to allow more transparency in dealing with inmates; Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.