By Jamal Saidi
By Jamal Saidi
Morocco World News
Casablanca, July 30, 2012
A video uploaded to Youtube yesterday depicted serious violations of the rights of prisoners in the Okasha prison of Casablanca. The date of when it was recorded, however, was not included. The video is expected to fuel a heated debate over Moroccan prisons.
The video was posted along with a photo of Hafid Benhachem, the delegate-general for the management of prisons and reintegration.
The scene shows several inmates with mental disabilities shouting and walking around the yard, others digging for food from piles of scattered trash in the overcrowded yard space. Another prisoner took off his clothes in a scene which might be reminiscent of the Abu Ghaib scandalous prison.
The commentator said that many prisoners were subject to sexual harassment. The insane were subject to all forms of torture and sexual assault, he added.
The tape disclosed the blackmailing of inmates. An employee took away a phone from a prisoner, as holding such devices are not allowed. But once he got a bribe of 50 Dirhams, he returned it.
The same officer beat another prisoner because he didn’t have any amount of money to give.
Another employee took three oranges from a prisoner who was in an overcrowded and messy holding cell.
The unknown person who posted the tape promised to broadcast more videos in the days to come on the overcrowding, and poor nutrition and treatment in Okasha Prison.
