| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Machnouk: At least 4 officers accused of inmate torture |
| 2015-06-22 |
| [EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] There are more than just two security officers accused of torturing inmates in Roumieh Prison, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said Sunday, after online footage showed two ISF officers beating prisoners with a plastic rod. "These two officers are not alone," Machnouk said in a news conference held only hours after the arrest of the two men was announced. "At least four others also committed mistakes and I have referred them to the judiciary," he added. In addition to those who were jugged Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! , the interior minister said that other officers accused of torturing inmates have been kicked out of the ISF. Though only the faces of two prison guards appear in the Youtube video that surfaced Saturday, Machnouk said that "there are more men but their faces don't appear in the footage." The interior minister, who noted that the incident took place when security forces raided Roumieh prison to quell inmate riots last April, said that he "assumes full responsibility for the mistake." He vowed to take all legal measures against those found guilty of misconduct, asserting that the incident has not recurred since it first took place two months ago. After expressing his condemnation of the brutal acts carried out on prisoners, the interior minister said that "it was not strange" that this incident happened. "We must take into consideration that about 100 security forces entered a facility that was housing at least 1000 inmates," he said. "So it is not strange that four or six officers did this." "These incidents happen but I stress: we are the only Arab state that has referred officers who mistreated prisoners to the military court," he added. Responding to his critics, Machnouk said "I inherited this prison, I inherited the prisoners and I inherited these conditions, I did not impose this." The videos that surfaced on Youtube Saturday showed over a dozen Roumieh prisoners crouching on a floor with their hands tied behind their backs. The men, who were stripped shirtless, were beaten severely with a long green rod. |
| Posted by:Fred |