Helping them turn a new page in life

Striving to change the image of prison as a place for punishment and torture to a place for rehabilitation and reformation, Dubai Central Jail gives its inmates the chance to improve their lives with its rehabilitation programmes.

"We promised ourselves to change the image of the prison from a place for torture and humiliation to a place of rehabilitation and reformation," said Major Tariq Kalenter, Managing Director of Central Jail and member of Dubai Police Academy staff.

This Gulf News reporter was shown around the prison by Lieutenant Mohammad Al Felasy, Head of Follow up and Enforcement Section and spoke to some inmates about how useful rehabilitation programmes were for them.

In the rehabilitation programmes, the focus is on religion. There are intensive courses to teach inmates religion and everything related to it.

"We do not force any inmate to take these courses. Every inmate has the freedom to practise his own religion," said Major Kalenter.

"We treat every inmate as a person who is able to reform. We expect that the inmate has the will to be a better person,"

"Here we do not call inmates prisoners, we prefer calling them occupants. It is a standard of treating them as humans which is a part of the rehabilitation process."

The education programme enables inmates to continue their studies and even apply for higher studies.

Currently, a Nigerian got his diploma and a national paid fees to a British university to continue his studies.

Inmates are taught religious sciences such as oratory, Fiqh (jurisprudence), Sharia (Islamic law) and Holy Quran-related sciences.

"After completing courses in all or some of these sciences, we got inmates who became imams, preachers, orators and muezzins [people who call for prayers]. Currently we have inmates who give Friday sermons on rotation as well," Major Kalenter said.

Education programmes also include teaching computer basics. After completing the course, inmates get certificates that show their computer skills.

Inmates get involved in other activities such as crafts and drawing. A large exhibition is set up that includes all the products made by inmates.

"Most of the products made by inmates such as wooden chairs, tables, toys or decorative pieces are sold to schools, national parks and the visitors of Global Village," said Lieutenant Al Felasy.

"Sometimes they are made on order. In 2005, Dh69,000 was generated from selling some of these products at the Global Village."

A.A., 27, a Pakistani inmate serving a life term for murder, said, "The rehabilitation courses I got here helped me a lot. I took courses in Fiqh and Sharia sciences and completed my higher education as well.

"I have been appointed Holy Quran memorisation assistant by Dubai International Holy Quran Award for other inmates here."

S.S. 36, a UAE national inmate serving 10 years, said, "I took the computer course in addition to Fiqh and Sharia sciences courses.

"Before entering jail, I did not know anything about Islam. But here I memorised half of the Holy Quran and one year was deducted from my term."

The location of the Central Jail will be moved to a bigger area in Al Aweer area.

"We will move to the new building in a month or so," said Major Kalenter. "There will be additional services for inmates in the new building."

PROGRAMMES
Quality award for establishment

• Currently there are about 1,200 inmates in the Central Jail.
• The rehabilitation programmes started in 2000, when Brigadier Mohammad Humaid Al Suwaidi became in charge of the General Department of Punitive Establishment.
• About 157 inmates converted to Islam this year.
• The General Department of Punitive Establishment secured second place in quality given by the General Department of Quality at Dubai police. It became the first department to win a quality award in various areas, including human resources, health, education and other fields.
• The department won the Dubai Holy Quran Award for 2004.
• Inmates, who memorise parts or all of the Holy Quran, get deductions in their jail terms.