Roumieh Prison
Roumieh prison (Arabic: سجن رومية) is the largest and most notorious prison in Lebanon, located in Roumieh, Matn district. It was designed to hold 1,050 inmates, though as of 2017 is extremely overcrowded and at about 300% capacity; this represents nearly half the prisoners in Lebanon.[1] Roumieh Prison holds convicted prisoners and prisoners on remand. It holds juveniles, women and men, all in separate sections.[2]
Although regarded as one of the best correctional facilities in Lebanon, Roumieh prison still lacks the minimum requirements to meet United Nations standards.[3]
On April 7, 2011, a mutiny erupted in a wing of the prison and prisoners armed with makeshift knives held five prison guards as hostages. Security officials stated that the initial protest was fueled by both the unfair imprisonment of a detainee found innocent by the Lebanese justice as well as the poor conditions of detention. The mutiny was contained after security forces reached a compromise with the detainees.[4]
See also
- 12 Angry Lebanese, a 2009 documentary filmed inside the prison
- Qubbah prison
- Yarze prison
References
- ^ Biao, Idowu (2017). Strategic Learning Ideologies in Prison Education Programs. IGI Global. p. 166. ISBN 978-1522529101.
- ^ Van Dijk, Jan. World Prison Population: Facts, Trends and Solutions. United Nations Programme Network Institutes, Technical Assistance Workshop, May 10, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
- ^ Catholic group aims to improve national prison system. WorldWide Religious News (WWRN), from The Daily Star, February 4, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
- ^ Mutiny in Main Lebanese Prison.BBC News, from BBC News, April 8, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-08.