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28 March 2024

Faraj Fund pays off debt of 61 inmates in UAE

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By Staff

In line with the spirituality of the auspicious month of Ramadan, the Faraj Fund paid off the debts of 61 financially-faltering inmates, including 4 Emiratis, and provided assistance to 13 inmates’ families, including nine Emirati families, during 26 days. 

With a total of Dh6 million paid, the fund will help release the inmates before Eid Al-Fitr, in order to reintegrate them in their communities.

The Relief fund or Faraj Fund for the welfare of inmates in Punitive and Correctional Establishments and their families at the Ministry of Interior studies the cases of financially-faltering inmates and their families across the state throughout the year, in order to pay their debts. 

The Faraj Fund had called upon the various state institutions and sectors; businessmen, philanthropists and good doers, to support the fund’s charity work to help indigent inmates at the Punitive and Correctional Establishments overcome their debts through donations, and provide assistance to their families, so they can return to normal life. 

Major General Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Faraj Fund, said: “The acts of benevolence undertaken by the Faraj Fund complement the country’s longstanding history of charity and distinguished humanitarian and philanthropic deeds.”

“The Faraj Fund will pursue its humanitarian role through its purposeful continuous programs, within its efforts to further support charity work for inmates. The fund also aims to cover all aspect of humanitarian work, so as to improve the quality of life of inmates and relieve them of their burdens,” he added.

Major General Al Nuaimi stated: “The Faraj Fund is keen to increase the standards of care and services provided to inmates and their families. This confirms the modern concepts of the Punitive and Correctional Establishments’ role, which embodies the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Interior. The fund also adopts criteria that are consistent with the ministry’s social goals and responsibilities to develop performance and maintain human rights.”

For his part, Brigadier Mohammed Rashid bin Kasheem Al Shamesi, Vice Chairman of Faraj Fund, said: “The Faraj Fund is keen to provide assistance to inmates of the Punitive and Correctional Establishments and their families. It also seeks to give them the financial support they need to return to their home countries and get reunited with their families during these blessed days of the Holy Month.”

He explained: “A total of 61 inmates from different nationalities, including four Emiratis, have had their debts settled and are expected to be released in time to spend the Eid with their families. The assistance included 7 blood money (Diya) cases, travel tickets, and civil debts, in addition to many other humanitarian cases.”

Furthermore, Al Shamesi said that 13 inmates’ families including nine Emirati families received assistance via cash or coupons, as part of the Faraj Fund programs during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

He noted that these humanitarian initiatives have positively impacted inmates’ families, who expressed their gratitude for the assistance that helped ease their suffering. Al Shamesi continued that the fund will pursue its humanitarian and philanthropic tasks to support inmates and their families.

Moreover, Brigadier Al Shamesi explained: “Such humanitarian initiatives encourage community members and sectors to help debt-laden and indigent inmates overcome the debts and return to their families, by settling the financial issues that forced them to remain in prison after serving their sentence.”
Vice Chairman of Faraj Fund added: “The family is an integral part of society’s fabric. If the head of the family or one of its members commits a misdemeanor, it does not mean that the family should be banished from society. On the contrary, this family must be embraced by the community, to prevent it from becoming an easy prey to circumstances, in the absence of the head of the family or its provider, based on the spirit of social solidarity for society members.”

“The United Arab Emirates is one of the first countries in the world to prioritize human care, by adopting standards that are consistent with its social objectives and vital responsibilities to improve performance and maintain human rights,” he continued. The Relief fund, or Faraj Fund for the welfare of inmates in Punitive and Correctional Establishments, and their families at the Ministry of Interior dedicates humanitarian financial assistance for inmates who have served their time at the Punitive and Correctional Establishments across the country, and are financially-faltering and unable to pay off their debts. The fund also strives to provide assistance to inmates’ families while they serve their terms.

The Board of Directors of Faraj Fund at the Ministry of Interior had recently met and launched a Ramadan campaign to support the fund’s program to provide aid and help to the targeted categories.