15 inmates referred to State Security Court in Swaqa riot case

AMMAN — Officials on Monday said that 15 inmates from Swaqa Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre (SCRC) were referred to the State Security Court (SSC) on terror related charges, adding that investigations are ongoing regarding the involvement of 13 police officers in alleged riots at the facility over the weekend.

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

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 to the dormitories, and the weapons reportedly seized from the inmates. 

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

“The investigation committee decided to refer the 15 inmates to the SSC on charges of plotting subversive acts, conducting acts of riots and destroying public property although no heavy weapons or explosives were found with the inmates,” Government Coordinator for Human Rights Basel Tarawneh said.

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

“The investigation committee is currently questioning 13 police officers in connection with the acts of riots and weapons seized from the inmates,” Tarawneh told The Jordan Times.

The government coordinator said that the number of police officers questioned could increase or decrease, “depending on the findings of the investigation committee”.

“Some of these officers are suspected of smuggling illegal and deadly items to the inmates, including a mobile phone,” Tarawneh added.

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”.

According to a statement by the Public Security Department (PSD), the SCRC is currently reviewing its “security procedures at the various correctional facilities in the Kingdom”.

“The PSD is keen on being transparent and informing the public about the procedures being conducted in the utmost transparent manner,” the PSD statement added.