West Darfur, March 11 (Darfur24)
Authorities in West Darfur State have formed an investigation committee to review conditions in prisons and detention centers following the circulation on social media of photos showing an inmate with apparent signs of torture.
Sources told Darfur24 that the photos show a man in his sixties being held in prison with injuries and wounds on different parts of his body, sparking widespread public concern and prompting authorities to open an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the sources, the inmate remains in custody and has not yet been tried. He was recently transferred to a hospital for treatment after his health condition deteriorated.
Meanwhile, the committee has begun reviewing conditions in all prisons and detention facilities across the state. The review also includes a comprehensive census of inmates and an examination of their legal status.
Sources added that prisons in West Darfur hold large numbers of detainees accused in criminal and civil cases, in addition to others tried under emergency law on charges related to security violations or bringing livestock onto farmland.
They also noted that some detention centers include soldiers from the Sudanese army and members of armed movements who were captured during previous clashes in the city of El Geneina.
Moreover, judicial institutions in the state are witnessing tensions and disputes between the judiciary and the emergency court affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces’ “control forces.”
According to the sources, these disputes had previously escalated to the point that the judicial system in West Darfur temporarily suspended its work before later resuming operations.