President Ibrahim Mohamed Solihi has revealed that authorities are building a special 100-person capacity unit in Maafushi Prison, where special reintegration programs for extremists would be carried out.
He made the announcement while speaking at the ceremony held to mark the 51st anniversary of the Maldives Correctional Services last night.
In his speech, President Solih referenced the recently published study “Prison Radicalisation in the Maldives” conducted by Transparency Maldives and highlighted that there was a prevalence of inmates convicted on drug-related charges being influenced by religious extremism in prisons.
He revealed that a special 100-person capacity unit was being built on Maafushi Prison, where special reintegration programs for extremists would be carried out.
The study by Transparency Maldives states that improvement of prison conditions generally can be monumental in preventing radicalization. It notes that increasing the availability of resources, from nutritious food to hygiene products, to physical space and availability of staff members, can all control the chaos and friction that arise in overcrowded, understaffed prisons.
The study also highlights that prisons in Muslim-majority countries must be especially careful to ensure that joining a terrorist group is not made attractive to prisoners.
It said that strict monitoring of money transfers, phone and internet contact, and mail can limit the financial benefits of joining these groups, especially when coupled with increased provision of resources and services by the prison to all prisoners.
It added that doing so will provide less of an incentive for prisoners to join terrorist groups even if they do not adhere to the radical ideology
