12 more inmates from Swaqa prison referred to State Security Court

AMMAN — Officials on Thursday said that an additional 12 inmates from Swaqa Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre (SCRC) have been referred to the State Security Court (SSC) on terror related charges in connection with the alleged riots and arson that occurred last week.

“The committee assigned to investigate the incidents at the correctional facility referred 12 more inmates who are now being questioned by the SSC prosecutor,” Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

Video clips purportedly showing riots and inmates harming themselves with sharp objects at SCRC circulated on social media last Friday, causing outrage among Jordanians.

“The committee is still examining the incident and the investigations are ongoing,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

Meanwhile, over 90 police officers from various correctional facilities were relocated to serve in other Public Security Department (PSD) offices, Government Coordinator for Human Rights Basel Tarawneh said.

“The PSD decided to rotate many of the officers that were serving in various correctional facilities in Jordan because of the incidents that occurred at SCRC last week,” Tarawneh told The Jordan Times.

A group of government and civil society human rights activists on Sunday visited the prison to get a firsthand account of the situation, including the procedures implemented, the extent of damages done to the dormitories, and the weapons reportedly seized from the inmates. 

They also met with members of the investigation committee who informed them about the latest developments.

Following the delegation’s visit, images were released to the media showing two dormitories entirely destroyed by fire as well as pictures of dozens of sharp objects, iron bars, ropes and other light objects, that were reportedly found with some inmates.

A total of 15 inmates were referred to the SSC prosecution last week, and 13 police officers working at SCRC were referred to the police prosecutor for questioning on charges of violating their duties in addition to alleged charges of smuggling illegal substances to the inmates, Tarawneh told The Jordan Times in a recent interview.

The SCRC also decided to send 151 inmates, whom the administration deemed as “troublemakers” to various correctional and rehabilitation centres across the Kingdom.

The alleged riots reportedly started on Friday, two days after a decision by the prison administration to move a few inmates to different dormitories and to conduct inspection campaigns. This move resulted in the alleged seizure of illegal substances and sharp objects.

The prisoners had previously complained during meetings with representatives from human rights organisations of “overcrowding, bad food quality and refusals to their demands to move to different dormitories”.