The Parliament’s Human Rights Committee will examine conditions at Central Prison following allegations that an inmate was sexually abused for two consecutive days and subjected to gang rape involving narcotics, with prison authorities failing to provide protection.
The parliamentary review follows a letter from lawyer Lito Kariolou detailing the alleged abuse of her client and claiming prison management did not safeguard the victim.
MP Alexandra Attalides has written to the committee chair requesting the matter be brought under parliamentary scrutiny.
“I sent a letter to the chair of the Human Rights Committee to bring back the discussion and see what is happening in the prisons,” Attalides told Philenews. “The victim’s lawyer has reported terrible things. It appears that acts are taking place in the prison without consequences.”
Attalides expressed concern about the handling of the case, stating that protocol was not immediately implemented and the victim was allegedly pressured to say he had no complaints.
“We are talking about continuous victimisation of a person. Does he cease to be human because he is imprisoned? Because he is a man?” she said.
Committee to discuss security concerns at overcrowded facility
Human Rights Committee Chair Irene Charalambidou confirmed that Central Prison issues have repeatedly occupied the committee’s attention. The committee first registered a matter concerning detention conditions at Central Prison on 29 May 2023 and has examined the subject at least twice more since then.
“As a committee, we have made two visits to Central Prison,” Charalambidou told Philenews. The committee will discuss at its next session on Monday whether to bring the matter forward again. “There is a security issue,” she noted.
Prison holds 900 inmates despite 600-person capacity
The facility currently holds more than 900 inmates despite having capacity for 600 people, creating severe overcrowding. “During our committee visit, we saw people sleeping on the floor,” Charalambidou said.
The committee chair also highlighted that the juvenile wing is located within the adult section, separated only by a partition. “It is not enough that there is a divider! When will the works be completed?” she said.
Charalambidou emphasised that the committee’s actions must be serious and carefully considered “so as not to put persons who are detained at further risk”.
Read more:
