A recently published report has documented a pattern of severe mistreatment within detention facilities, alleging the systematic use of torture against detainees. The findings include detailed accounts of physical and sexual violence, which survivors describe as both widespread and methodical.
One former detainee, a father of six, recounted a brutal assault he says occurred shortly after his detention in early 2024. He described being subjected to a prolonged attack by guards, which included severe beatings and sexual violence with objects, leaving him with significant internal injuries. For weeks afterward, he received no medical attention for the bleeding and was forced to manage his wounds with makeshift materials in an overcrowded cell.
“I have a moral duty to speak about what happened to me and to others,” the man stated, explaining his decision to publicly share his experience despite social pressures and potential repercussions. He was held for over a year without formal charges or a trial.
The report, compiled by a human rights organization, asserts that such abuses are not isolated incidents but represent a grave and deliberate pattern. It alleges that threats, forced nudity, beatings targeting genitals, attacks by dogs, and forced penetrations with objects have been used against detainees. The organization contends that since late 2023, detention centers have effectively operated as sites where the infliction of severe pain is normalized policy.
Authorities have firmly denied the allegations. A statement from the prison service rejected the report’s claims, asserting that all detainees are held lawfully with their rights respected, including access to necessary medical care. Military authorities did not provide an immediate comment on the specific accusations.
Another case cited involves a man detained in late 2023 from a medical facility. He testified to being beaten, attacked by a dog, and sexually assaulted with an object by a soldier during his initial hours in custody. He was released nearly two years later without ever being formally charged.
The report further criticizes what it calls a lack of accountability and independent oversight. It notes that visits from international humanitarian observers have been suspended, and detainees are cut off from contact with their families. It also highlights dozens of deaths in custody since late 2023, with allegations that many resulted from violence or medical neglect. In some cases, families report being unable to retrieve their loved ones’ remains for burial.
Beyond physical and sexual violence, the document details other alleged methods of torture, including electric shocks, the use of chemical irritants and explosive stun devices, and burns from hot liquids. It states that systemic denial of healthcare has led to permanent disabilities, including amputations and sensory loss.
The former detainee who came forward acknowledged the personal cost of speaking out, including ostracization and difficulty finding work. Yet, he expressed no regret, stating that during his imprisonment, the signs of similar abuse on other prisoners were unmistakable. “Even if the others didn’t speak about it, it was obvious they also had this experience,” he said.