Dubai: An Arab convict who has memorised 20 parts of the Quran is still seeking an answer to why his jail term is not being reduced.
M.S., who is serving a life sentence on drug charges, was hoping to benefit from a decree by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and head of the Quran Award, allowing inmates who memorise the Quran to have their sentences reduced.
M.S, 52, Syrian father of four, memorised 20 parts of the Quran, which could have helped take 15 years off his jail term. He has been in jail since 1998.
Despite memorising the Quran and passing the required exams, M.S. was barred twice by the Dubai Attorney-General's Technical Office from benefiting from the decree.
The Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), organisers of the programme ‘The Memorisation of the Holy Quran at Punitive Institutions in Dubai", chaired by Ebrahim Bu Melha, issued M.S. and other prisoners certificates for memorising parts of the Quran and they also sent a letter to the Dubai Attorney General's Technical Office in this regard.
No explanation
In the letter, Bu Melha stated that M.S. and other prisoners could benefit from the DIHQA special programme and have their punishment reduced.
According to the documents, all prisoners except M.S. who memorised the Quran in full or in part have had their sentences reduced.
M.S. told Gulf News that he was given no explanation why he was excluded. "I started memorising the Holy Quran in 2005 and [am] still memorising in jail six hours a day. I have been in jail for more than 13 years," M.S. said.
M.S. said he regrets his crime and added the Quran has made him a different person.
"I was helped in jail to be a good person. I have now peace of mind, heart and soul." M.S. said he is happy to be part of this programme but wonders why he was excluded from having his jail term reduced like others. "H.L, a Pakistani prisoner, was with me in the same case. He memorised the Quran and was released in 2006," he said.
Gulf News repeatedly tried to contact Khalifa Bin Deemas, First Attorney General and head of the Attorney General's Technical Office, but he was unavailable for comment.
Key gesture: Desire to reform
In an unprecedented humanitarian gesture, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree stating that sentences of prisoners in Dubai jails be reduced for anyone who memorises the Quran or parts of it regardless of the severity or motive of the crime.
The decree listed the norms for reducing sentences. Inmates who memorise the entire Quran (30 parts) could get a reduction of 20 years.
— memorising 20 parts will help reduce 15 years.
— memorising 15 parts will help reduce 10 years.
— memorising 10 parts will help reduce five years of the term.
— memorising five parts will help reduce one year.
— memorising three parts will help reduce six months of the term.
Inmates on death row, or those who killed intentionally and those whose terms are less than six months cannot participate in this programme.
Appreciation
Dr Ahmad Al Qubaisi, a prominent Islamic scholar, told Gulf News that memorising the Quran will help convicts change and become good members of society. "Memorising the Holy Quran is not easy and not every person can do it. Those who can do it must be gifted which means prisoners who memorise the Holy Quran are making great achievements, which must be valued," he said.
Dr Al Qubaisi said even if the prisoners memorise the Quran just to get their terms reduced, it is good and must be appreciated.
