In a press release in reaction to what was published on the facebook page of the Moroccan section of AI, the delegation noted that this position, which is contrary to international charters, comes from an organization that claims to defend human rights, knowing that the very spirit of these rights is the defense of human beings regardless of their national, geographic and religious affiliation.
AI-Morocco has ignored the universal reference of human rights, said the same source, adding that the considerations that led it to commit this blunder have no connection with human rights, all the more since it has used its capacity of a human rights organization to serve other agendas.
What has been posted on the AI - Morocco section page shows that it was not aware of or that it ignored the preventive measures taken by the DGPAR to combat the spread of the new coronavirus within penitentiaries, in particular health measures such as the generalization of the use of cleaning means and the periodic disinfection of the various facilities of prisons, while providing employees and prisoners with protection equipment, including hand sanitizers and face masks.
In accordance with the provisions of the decree-law relating to the state of health emergency, the DGPAR gradually then completely prohibited visits, just as all the personnel of the penitentiaries was quarantined within the said establishments, while providing them with all the material and logistical means to accomplish their missions, added the press release, specifying that these measures aim to protect both the staff and the inmates.
The General Delegation has also taken other preventive measures, notably quarantining new detainees in special premises before placing them in the pavilions after the end of the required period, noted the press release, adding that medical checkups have been performed whenever any of them showed symptoms.
It added that in order to preserve the health and safety of the inmates and the prison staff, the DGPAR, in coordination with the judicial authorities, banned sending prisoners to courts and started using remote hearings.
The General Delegation also prohibited the going of prisoners to consultations in hospitals except in emergencies, and coordinated with health authorities to allow prisoners to benefit from specialized medical examinations in penitentiaries.
While taking these measures, the DGPAR made no distinction between the detainees, neither over the charges brought against them nor because of their geographic or ethnic affiliation, the statement said, noting that they are all considered citizens deprived of freedom, and treated according to this principle without discrimination or differentiation.
The General Delegation takes this opportunity to hail all its employees for the sincere patriotism, the sacrifices and the altruism they showed while on duty, the respect of quarantine requirements and the adherence to the precautionary measures taken by the General Delegation to protect prisons from the spread of the new coronavirus, and also to praise all detainees, without exception, for their respect for the preventive measures taken for their protection and the protection of employees, without forgetting the families of detainees who have understood the seriousness of the situation and have stopped visits.
Amnesty International - Morocco Section with its discriminatory attitude towards detainees, has failed in its noble mission to defend human rights, regardless of position or geographical, ethnic and social affiliation, and has pushed the public opinion to withdraw its confidence in it, the statement said.
It noted that as a department in charge of prison administration and reintegration, "we have called on this organization to avoid such deviations and discrimination", adding that the General Delegation intends to review its partnerships with AI whose positions undermine first of all the organization itself.