Hunger Strike at Roumieh as Justice and Interior Ministry Delegation Listened to Inmates’ Demands

The Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that a delegation from the interior and justice ministries visited Roumieh prison in order to listen to the demands of inmates who had gone on hunger strike on Friday.

It said in a statement: “These demands included issuing a general pardon, speeding up trials, tackling prison overcrowding, improving the quality of food, and increasing the number of doctors at the jail.”

The ministers of interior and justice were informed of the demands and they will be referred to the parliament, government, ministries, and concerned sides, it concluded.

Some 122 inmates in Roumieh prison began a hunger strike Friday night in protest against the failure to improve the conditions in the jail, reported Voice of Lebanon radio on Saturday.

Father Marwan Ghanem said that inmates noted for their good behavior are carrying out the strike.

VDL added that the prisoners are demanding meeting caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud and caretaker Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar in order to present their demands.

A judicial-security committee is scheduled to visit Roumieh prison on Saturday in order to tackle their demands based on the two ministers’ request.