Barbaric Jail “Overhauled”

Kabul's notorious Pul-e-Charkhi prison, which was used by former Afghan regimes to punish their rivals and suppress any dissent, is being overhauled, as part of a reform of the penal system, the authorities say.

But human rights activists and some Pul-e-Charkhi inmates have cast doubts over the government’s claims.

The capital’s prison, which has held more than 40,000 prisoners since opening in 1970, became known as a site of tortures and mass killings by the former communist regime. The Taleban also held more than a thousand of their political enemies there, in inhuman and degrading conditions.

Much of the jail was destroyed after the latter regime fell in November 2001. But now two of the 11 derelict blocks have been rebuilt, housing 70 detainees and work is ongoing to repair other sections of the institution. Fifty thousand US dollars have already been spent, but another ten million is needed to refurbish the entire complex, according to officials.

In contrast with the brutality of the former prison regime, today's Pul-e-Charkhi inmates will be treated decently and receive training as part of efforts to rehabilitate them, the authorities say.

“In the past, the prisoners would be beaten, tortured and treated inhumanely,” said the central prison's commander, Zahiruddin Zahir. “But we want to create a sort of school where people will be trained to become good citizens.”

Vocational courses such as tailoring, carpet-weaving, carpentry and welding are apparently being planned.

Afghanistan’s prisons have a long history of serious abuses. Amnesty International has reported that while all jails were less than satisfactory, Pul-e-Charkhi was particularly feared for its summary executions, torture, and degrading treatment of prisoners.

International attention has since forced the transitional administration to take decisive action to improve its jails.

In March 2003, the justice ministry took over prison management from the interior ministry, a move interpreted by human rights organisation as an important break with the past. And a number of foreign donors – most notably Italy – have provided money to overhaul the penal system.

Amnesty International told IWPR that its officials had not visited Pul-e-Charkhi since its partial reopening in July, as the organisation’s office in Kabul has recently closed.

But a spokesperson said, “When we visited the prison in May 2003, we had serious concerns that [it] was not ready for [inmates]. It lacked electricity and water, as well as having no plans for prisoners' activities.

“Amnesty International welcomes the authorities' assurances that conditions are good in Pul-e-Charkhi, but continues to have serious concerns at the lack of a comprehensive, nationwide strategic plan for the full reconstruction of the prison system.”

The general secretary of prisons at the justice ministry, Lieutenant General Abdul Salam Bakhshi, insists that progress was being made.

“Fundamental changes have taken place in our prisons for the protection of inmates,” he said. “We now ask the courts and the attorney officers in the provinces to specify the imprisonment period for each prisoner – or we release them.”

“We have also prepared courses such as English language teaching, mathematics [and] calligraphy. There are health clinics for the sick, and prisoners in some jails are allowed to use their own televisions.”

However, one policeman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that around half of the 70 people currently imprisoned in Pul-e-Charkhi had not been convicted of any offence.

“No court has decided against me, but I have still been brought to Pul-e-Charkhi,” one inmate told IWPR, on a tour of the prison.

Other prisoners complained about conditions and food. “We are drinking water from a barrel that rusted, so all of us are now suffering from dysentery,” said another inmate.

Acknowledging that more has to be done, Amnesty International said, “There must be a concerted effort on the part of the government, with the support of the international community, to make prison reform and reconstruction a priority.

“We will be visiting Afghanistan later this year and will continue to look at the important issues surrounding the reconstruction of the criminal justice system, on which we have been focusing for the past year.”

Danish Karokhel is an IWPR editor/trainer and Sayed Abdullah is an independent journalist.