Sharjah: As part of GCC Inmates Week, Sharjah Punitive and Rehabilitation Centre organised a singing competition among inmates that resembled the famous programme, Arab Idol.
The competition followed emotional meetings earlier this week inside the prison with family members inmates had not seen in years.
As many as 200 inmates were taking part in the singing competition, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Abdul Aziz Al Shail, chief of the correctional section, Director of services, told Gulf News
Inside the jail, a colourful stage with modern decorations was especially built to carry out the competition during the week-long event which ends on Thursday under the slogan “Lead me to a better future”.
“We are so happy to see the inmates have fun and enjoy their times. This will help them in rehabilitation process and reunite them with society “,he said
Prisoners, meanwhile, with a record of good behaviour in Sharjah were reunited with their families earlier this week as part of an event set up for GCC Inmates Week.
The prisoners, many of whom had not seen their families without a glass panel between them for years, were being rewarded by Sharjah Punitive Establishments Department for their good behaviour and also being encouraged to be good citizens on their release.
The week-long event, which ends on Thursday, was held under the slogan “Lead me to a better future”.
The reunion was organised by Sharjah Police, Air Arabia, which offered free tickets to families, and Emirates Palace Hotel, which provided free accommodation and meals.
The inmates were told they would be meeting their families but not that they would be having dinner with them.
When the metal door of the dining hall slid open, the inmates were greeted by cries from their waiting families, including spouses and children.
All police officers and jail wardens wore civilian clothes instead of their usual police uniforms.
“Emotions are raw as many of them have not seen each other for a long time,” Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Abdul Aziz Al Shail, chief of the correctional section, director of services, told Gulf News.
He said the main aim of the open day was to bring families together and help inmates focus on acceptance, support and reconciliation.
“It basically boosts the self-esteem of the inmates when they see their family and friends visit them on this day, and upon release they work hard at doing something tremendous with their lives because they know the importance of family,” Al Shail said.
Five inmates declared they were to going to embrace Islam during the event.
Brigadier Abdullah Mubark Al Dukhan, Deputy Director of Sharjah Police, Colonel Arif Al Sharif, head of Sharjah Punitive Establishments Department, Lieutenant Colonel Mona Surour, Director of Sharjah Women’s Jail, as well as media representatives and a number of foreign and Arab diplomatic missions to UAE attended the ceremony.
Families of Inmates from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka were invited by Sharjah Police to spend time with their loved ones.
The event, which held in Sharjah for third year, was praised by diplomatic missions who attended the ceremony.
Brigadier Al Dukhan stressed the importance of family bonds.
Sharjah Police also organised tourist visits for inmates’ families in the emirate of Sharjah.
Al Shail said that the inmates’ programmes are funded in part through a partnership between Sharjah Police and Sharjah Charity Association and the Farj Fund.
In Sharjah, 30 inmates were released in one day during the third GCC Inmates Week, after the Farj Fund paid their debts of Dh1.7 million.
