North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo) has asked for senior officials from the Maldives Correctional Service to be called before the relevant parliamentary committee to tackle increasing public concerns regarding prison conditions, current reform initiatives within the prison system, and enduring unresolved matters.

The plea was officially presented in a letter dispatched to Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdull on Monday.

A major concern mentioned in the letter was the overcrowding of prisons. Kudoo observed that surpassing the designated capacity for housing inmates leads to insufficient living conditions and raises major security issues, especially when serious offenders are held with those guilty of lesser crimes.

The letter further expressed worries about inadequate medical treatment for inmates, the unsupervised dispensing of potent psychiatric drugs, and the lack of suitable isolation spaces for inmates affected by contagious illnesses like Tuberculosis (TB).

Furthermore, the Kudoo characterized the indefinite detention of individuals awaiting trial, or 'Vaanuva,' as a significant human rights issue. The legislator stated that indefinite detention without an assigned trial date inflicts significant emotional and societal distress on detainees and their families.

Kudoo pointed out that insufficient ventilation leads to excessive heat in facilities, while neglected sanitation systems increase the likelihood of disease outbreaks. The correspondence additionally mentioned issues with rat and mosquito infestations and highlighted difficulties experienced by female inmates in obtaining necessary items, such as sanitary supplies.

Concerns were expressed about the quality of meals served in prisons and the absence of adequate hygiene practices in food preparation and distribution.

Besides asking for the Maldives Correctional Service leadership to present before the committee, Kudoo encouraged committee members to visit correctional facilities to evaluate conditions directly.

The proposal aims to enhance understanding of the advancements in prison reform efforts.