UAE Minister defends decision to segregate expatriate and national delinquents

Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday questioned the Government's move to send delinquents to centres attached to prisons, where they could mingle with criminals.

The House also criticized the role and performance of the rehabilitation centres for minors and said that majority of drug addicts and others criminals served their terms in such centres.

They demanded that the Government revoke a decision to stop accepting delinquent expatriates at rehabilitation centres across the country.

Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, said the Government took a decision to separate foreign and Emirati delinquents to help protect UAE nationals from external influence.

“The move was prompted by a crime that took place in 1992… an Asian delinquent in collaboration with six other delinquents from the same country committed a murder. A court ruled that they serve a term in a rehabilitation centre affiliated to the Ministry of Social Affairs. These delinquents committed several other crimes against minor Emiratis at the centres, including sodomy and rape'', Al Roumi said.

The minister added that majority of foreign delinquents committed dangerous crimes, including armed robbery, murder and rape.