Inmates take over prison

last updated 8 January 2015

Kabul

Al Qaida and Taliban prisoners in Afghanistan’s main high-security prison took over a cellblock this week, in a riot over new uniforms. Prisoners had been allowed to wear their own clothes. But after seven Taliban members broke out in January, inmates were given orange jumpsuits to make escaping more difficult. Dozens of prisoners armed with clubs and knives took over a cellblock, dangling burning uniforms out the windows and chanting, “Long live Islam, Long live the prisoners, Death to Bush.” Afghan officials said negotiating with the prisoners was virtually impossible because their demands kept changing. “They are not very well organized,” said Deputy Justice Minister Muhammad Hashemzai. “Everyone is saying a different thing.”