Saturday, March 17, 2012

Why do we Always Find Prisons the Solution?


One of the most pitched battles over sovereignty and authority has been the demand that the US turn over their prison systems in Afghanistan. While details appear to have been reached regarding the largest US-run prison, there remain informal detention centers across the country.
“The U.S. also operates what it has described as temporary holding pens for gathering intelligence from detainees in Afghanistan; officials have confirmed anonymously that some detainees have been held at these centers for up to nine weeks. The agreement does not appear to address these sites.”

The NYT’s has an article on invasive body searches of women seeking to visit loved ones at the largest Afghan-run prison.

"Since June 2009, the United States has earmarked $26.8 million for renovations at the prison, and just over half of that has already been spent."


Radio Free Europe drew attention earlier in the week to a hunger strike at the same prison.
"In the past decade, inmates have alleged widespread abuse and mistreatment at the hands of Afghan officials. Those allegations of prisoner mistreatment resurfaced this week after prison officials at Pul-e Charkhi confirmed that at least 100 inmates had gone on hunger strike and sewed their lips together in protest at what they say are inhumane conditions."


Additional Resources

AFSC Report on Arizona Private Prisons.

Ambitious Afghan Biometric ID Plan

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Afghanistan 101 is a blog of the American Friends Service Committee
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