The women’s wing in the overcrowded Nicosia prisons is in a shocking state as the number of prisoners climbed to a new high, Philenews reported on Monday.
Some of them are forced to sleep on the floor since there are no available beds, it added.
Cyprus now ranks first among European countries as regard prison overcrowding, according to Council of Europe statistics.
Relatives of detainees have said the problem is exacerbated by the increased prison admissions of women from African countries sent to prison after failed attempts to leave Cyprus on forged travel documents.
Specifically, out of the 90 women currently behind bars in Nicosia prisons 65 are from the Republic of Congo.
And they have been sentenced between five to 10 months for crimes punishable by an administrative fine – as is the case in other European countries.
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