A National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) team on Tuesday visited prisoners on hunger strike since last Monday in Taif Prison. The prisoners, allegedly involved in financial scams, are protesting against what they considered a delay in handing down Shariah verdicts in their cases. The NSHR team got the viewpoint of the striking inmates, Dr. Hussien Al-Shareef, the society's chief in Makkah. The NSHR team urged the prisoners to call off their strike stressing that several communication channels can be used to highlight the issue. “They should continue sending their complaints to the authorities concerned instead of resorting to hunger strike. Moreover, they should understand that the Prisons Authority has nothing to do with judicial procedures,” he said. Lt. Col. Dr. Ayoub Bin Hijab, Director of Public Affairs in the Prisons Authority, said the condition of the prisoners is stable and is being continuously monitored. Some of the prisoners were sent to the hospital due to the drop in their blood sugar. They were given medical fluids and returned to prison.
