Shaikh Khalifa pardons 263 prisoners

Abu Dhabi: Some 263 prisoners in Abu Dhabi's correctional and punitive establishments were ordered to be released upon the orders of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Shaikh Khalifa will also pay the prisoners' financial debts. The prisoners are serving different prison terms.

The president also ordered that work opportunities be made available for the released UAE nationals according to the followed procedures while non-nationals will be deported.

The release order of imprisoned nationals and nationals of other countries comes in line with Shaikh Khalifa's keenness to give prisoners another chance to start their lives again and to alleviate the suffering of their families.

The decision to release prisoners and to pay their financial debts is a continuation of the route trodden by Shaikh Khalifa on different occasions, which comes to enhance the spirit of forgiveness as a main UAE society trait.

The Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution Office started taking immediate measures to release the prisoners upon the directives of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Head of the Judicial Department, in line with Shaikh Khalifa's orders.