700 prisoners win Ramadan pardon

RAMADAN PARDONS: granted by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. (Getty Images)

Seven hundred Emirati and expat prisoners will be released and granted executive pardon from prisons across the UAE to mark the holy month of Ramadan, it was reported on Wednesday.

President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has also instructed the settlement of the prisoners’ debts, according to state news agency, Wam.

Muslim countries around the world pardon thousands of prisoners jailed for minor crimes during the holy month.

It is not yet known if the British DJ, Grooverider, was one of the pardoned prisoners.

The DJ, who was sentenced to four years in prison after he was caught at Dubai International Airport with a small amount of cannabis, was hoping to be released after it was revealed his name was on a list of possible pardons to be dealt with during Ramadan.

Pardons during the holy month are granted on humanitarian reasons.

Other factors taken into consideration include the nature of the crime, the length of sentence, good behaviour and how much of the jail term has been served.

Last year Sheikh Khalifa granted an executive pardon to 808 prisoners and settled prisoners’ debts worth $930,000.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Fogiveness is Quality of God! please return sinners to re-capture their life and family for a new start.
Posted by Tavakoli, Ontario, Canada on Tuesday 2 September 2008 at 04:07 UAE time

I hope pardon is given to men with wife and kids waiting for them at home. My prayers goes out to them.

Expats should take better care with their money matters
Posted by Samer, Dubai on Thursday 28 August 2008 at 16:47 UAE time

This news is truly a breath of fresh air from HH's office. Many UAE nationals are suffering to make day's end meet. Its great to see the government standing by its people like that.

Some expats, however, come in here and act is if they will never leave, buying things they don't need with money they don't have. Most, if not all, end up in really bad financial situations.

If you are an Expat and in heavy debts, wake up buddy: you are here for the wrong reasons. Better manage your finances properly or you are better off packing up and going home.

700 prisoners win Ramadan pardon
Posted by Financially destressed, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 28 August 2008 at 12:17 UAE time

Can the government also assist those people of the public who are struggling financially and have not yet been to prison. This would be a great pardon to non-criminal expats if criminals can be given this allowance for piece of mind. Banks are so difficult to deal with when you work hard and try to meet their demands.

There are people who have loans in this country and that is the only reason keeping them back in dubai or else they would have put an end to the financial struggle and gone back home to their families.

Criminals can have their debts paid by the government, can't this be done for other so we can return to our home countries

I love stories like this
Posted by Robert Richards, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 27 August 2008 at 16:49 UAE time

After reading all of the negative stories and comments from people it is wonderful to read stories like this.

Congratulations to his Highness for honouring the holy month in this way.

And sorry, but who cares about DJ who was found guilty of breaking the laws of the country and rightly sentenced to jail.

And can I ask that you please focus on the unfortunate souls who may have been jailed for owing money after falling on hard times who have now been reprieved, not focus on ignorant people who did not bother to find out the penalty visiting the UAE with illegal substances.

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