Ramallah – Saba:
The Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs revealed on Monday that female prisoners are being subjected to ongoing violations by the administration of "Damon" Prison, run by the Israeli occupation.
The commission's lawyer relayed the testimony of detainee Intisar Al-Awawda (52 years old), from the town of Karma in Hebron, who has been detained since May 13. Al-Awawda described the harassment she endured during her arrest, saying, "The Israeli occupation forces raided the house around 9:30 a.m. in large numbers. They asked for my name, confiscated my phone and laptop, and arrested me. They tied my hands and blindfolded me, refused to let me change my clothes, and took me to a military vehicle."
She added, "Throughout the ordeal, they kept pushing me to the ground. There was no female soldier with them. Then, they took me to an interrogation center in 'Kiryat Arba,' and later to 'Al-Maskobiya' detention center, where I was strip-searched. I remained there for 22 days under extremely poor conditions unfit for human life—dim lighting, no windows, and undrinkable water."
Al-Awawda continued to describe the inhumane conditions during her transfer between prisons, stating, "Later, I was moved to 'Sharon' Prison, where humidity reaches mold levels, the floor is filthy like a garbage dump, and foul odors are everywhere. As for the food, it is poor in both quantity and quality."
She further explained, "Conditions in 'Damon' Prison are extremely harsh. There is no natural ventilation in the cells, and female prisoners lack basic hygiene supplies."
Al-Awawda noted that "all female prisoners suffer from skin irritation due to excessive sweating, humidity, and poor ventilation. Most also suffer from constipation because of the poor-quality food and lack of movement, as our time in the yard is limited. We cannot exercise because the yard is under camera surveillance, and their presence prevents us from removing our head coverings, which stops us from getting sunlight."
She added, "Most of us suffer from vitamin D deficiency and hair loss. We still lack sufficient clothing and undergarments, in addition to enduring constant and sudden inspections at any hour, causing distress—especially for minors and pregnant women."
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