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UAE president pardons 879 prisoners in honor of Ramadan

Xinhua, June 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Tuesday pardoned 879 prison inmates in honor of the Islamic month of Ramadan, state news agency WAM reported.

The 879 prisoners were serving jail terms due to personal debts. President Khalifa ordered the total debt sum to be reimbursed by the UAE government.

UAE attorney-general Salim Saeed Kubaish said the decision underscored the president's commitment "to preserve the unity of the UAE and direct all its citizens' energies towards building a better future."

Kubaish said "with this supreme decision, the president is granting the released inmates a genuine opportunity for reintegration into the community as upstanding citizens, in order to engage in and positively contribute to building the nation's destiny."

He added that the ruling will allow released inmates to reunite with their families during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

One of the five pillars in Islam, Ramadan calls on Muslims to fast during the day and to break their fast after sunset as well as increase charity activities and donations.

Pardoning prisoners is common in the UAE during Ramadan and on the Gulf Arab state's National Day observed December 2nd. Endit