Prisoners memorise Quran, get jail term reduced

dubai — The Dubai International Holy Quran award (Dihqa), as part of its 14 diverse branches, has helped 115 inmates of Dubai inmates have their jail terms reduced by six months to 20 years by assisting them in memorising the Holy Quran.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, IT & HR director — Dihqa, said a third batch of the aspirant inmates have just finished the tests, which are organised in collaboration with the punitive and correctional institutions of the Dubai Police.

“As many as 124 inmates, who have been trained at the hands of staff Quran teachers, have sat the Quran memorisation tests in the third quarter of this year.”

He added that only 115 of the listed 124 inmates managed to have their imprisonment terms reduced as per the amount of Quran parts or chapters they learnt by heart.

“Seven inmates got 20 years of their imprisonment cut, while four inmates have had a 15-year drop in their jail term.”

Eight other inmates had 10 years of their imprisonment dropped, and 20 had a five-year cut, while 35 got one-year reduction and 41 inmates got six months cut, he added.

Al Hammadi said they will finish the due legal procedures for commuting the memoriser inmates’ jail terms in coordination with the Dubai Public Prosecution and the punitive and correctional institutions of Dubai Police.

Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, Adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs and Head of the Award Organising Committee, said the pioneering scheme, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in 2002, has significantly helped correct the behaviour of so many prisoners, and enlighten them about the merciful teachings of the Quran.

“The 17-year-old Quran memorisation programme for the punitive and correctional institutions in

Quran memorisation programme offered inmates a precious opportunity to start anew, be good citizens, behave well, and make good use of their time.” Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, Head of the Award Organising Committee

Dubai offered inmates a precious opportunity to start anew, be good citizens, behave well, and make good use of their time during their jail terms, and thereafter.”

Official records show that up to 2017 over 2,950 inmates, excluding murderers, have had their imprisonment partially or entirely commuted.