uae business chiefs clear debts to free prisoners for ramadan
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

UAE business chiefs clear debts to free prisoners for Ramadan

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today UAE business chiefs clear debts to free prisoners for Ramadan

UAE business chiefs clear debts
Dubai - Arab Today

Business leaders are joining a jewellery boss's Ramadan campaign to clear the debts of prisoners who have served their time but remain in jail because they cannot afford to pay fines.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," said property developer Parvez Khan, chairman of Pacific Ventures.
Mr Khan paid Dh45,550 towards the debts of 40 prisoners from Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Nepal.
He was inspired to act after reading about Firoz Merchant, founder and chairman of Pure Gold, who is spending Dh1.5million during Ramadan to settle the debts of 1,000 prisoners and buy their flight tickets home.
"I thought, 'I must join this'," Mr Khan said. "Now some of my friends also want to give money to help. Many prisoners had good jobs once but got stuck because of non-payments. I hope to do this all year, not just during Ramadan."
Other businessmen want to partner with local charities who help workers jailed in accidental death cases involving diya, or blood money.
"I have desired for some time to help out at least one UAE prisoner," said Suraj Mulani, the owner of a Dubai dry-cleaning company.
"People are struck with misfortune in many cases and I hope to help out with time and money," Mr Mulani said.
Mr Merchant has paid about Dh1m to clear the debts of about 700 prisoners, 100 of them from Fujairah Central Prison.
"It is heartening to see people from the private sector come forward," Mr Merchant said. "Some call to say they can give money for 10 tickets, some want to help 50 prisoners. They say they always wanted to help, but never knew how to."
Mr Merchant receives the names of prisoners in need from the Al Faraj Relief Fund, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior.
"We have an Arabic saying, 'al adala al ejtimaya' [everybody gets their share], and so also in this way the business people are helping the poor," said Lt Col Ahmed Hamdan Al Zayuodi, the prisons chief at Fujairah Police.
"Some prisoners have to pay back Dh10,000, some Dh20,000 because they did not have enough money in their business. Many people are also calling up to pay for tickets."
A retired prison official said it was a growing movement.
"This is how society can help each other; it shows how involved people can get in the place they live in," he said.
"Anyone can have a problem, especially in their business. During the holy month everybody wants to do good things and central jails take the opportunity to focus on this. Also people know exactly where their money is going and who they are giving it to."
In the next phase of Mr Merchant's campaign he will pay the debts of labourers jailed in other GCC countries, starting with Saudi Arabia. He is speaking to officials and consulates to find out likely numbers and to frame a process.
"These workers need support for air tickets or have fines they can't pay because their visas have expired," he said. "The process will take a little more time because embassies have to check whether the prisoners belong to their country if they don't have passports. It will require a lot of coordination. But I believe it can be done."

Source: The National

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

uae business chiefs clear debts to free prisoners for ramadan uae business chiefs clear debts to free prisoners for ramadan



GMT 18:26 2018 Friday ,14 December

Mashrou’ Leila headline Apple event in Dubai

GMT 13:29 2018 Friday ,14 December

Turkey targets military over alleged Gulen links

GMT 14:29 2016 Tuesday ,20 December

Marc Anthony divorcing Venezuelan model wife

GMT 17:29 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Bollywood star urges Davos set to fight sexism

GMT 15:56 2018 Sunday ,07 January

From obscurity to superstar status, Coutinho's rise

GMT 10:08 2017 Friday ,24 March

Brazil on brink, Messi revives Argentina

GMT 20:26 2011 Thursday ,25 August

The Shah: A poisonous legacy that haunts Iran

GMT 22:03 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

Marie Moatti leaves Hermès

GMT 07:46 2017 Thursday ,14 September

Al Shamri calls for supporting the banks

GMT 19:37 2017 Sunday ,02 April

Iraqi PM stresses government's quest for reform

GMT 07:58 2017 Monday ,20 November

Honda recalls 800,000 minivans over faulty seats

GMT 16:10 2018 Friday ,14 December

Bahrain press headlines For 14 Dec 2018

GMT 10:42 2018 Monday ,03 December

Abbas arrives in Rome to counteract Israeli policy

GMT 11:20 2018 Sunday ,07 October

Index begins week’s trading in decline

GMT 10:39 2017 Sunday ,20 August

Alexandria governor Mohamed Sultan in Shanghai

GMT 13:33 2013 Friday ,04 January

Skyfall gives the ‘Golden Eye’ to Oscar glory

GMT 16:30 2011 Sunday ,11 December

Jumeirah appointed to manage luxury Rome hotel

GMT 14:57 2011 Friday ,24 June

Michelle Obama visits AIDS clinic in Botswana

GMT 19:11 2011 Saturday ,16 April

Cuba to celebrate 50 years since Bay of Pigs

GMT 18:32 2017 Monday ,28 August

UAE CP receives Guinean president
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday