Prisons overcrowded

May 17, 2013

Prisons_overcrowded

Jeddah, May 17: Prisons are experiencing overcrowding due to an increase in the number of inmates and a delay in releasing inmates who have completed their sentences, the Kingdom’s prisons department chief has said.

The number of prisoners in central jails in Riyadh, Makkah and Jeddah is now nearly three times their capacity, local media reported quoting Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Harthi.

“The problem has been caused by a failure on the part of the Ministries of Justice and Health, as well as immigration officers and prosecutors, to cooperate with us. They have not taken any measures to ease the pressure on prisons,” he said.

“They continue to send to jail those who have not been sentenced yet and refuse to send those who are ill into quarantine to avert the spread of infection. In addition, many prisoners whose jail terms have expired also still remain in prison.”

Al-Harthi said around 6,300 inmates are currently serving time in Riyadh’s central prison even though the prison can accommodate only up to 1,800 people.

There are also 2,500 and 7,400 inmates at the central prisons of Makkah and Jeddah although they have a maximum capacity of 700 and 2,000 respectively, he added.

A large, modern and spacious prison is being built near the Makkah-Jeddah Highway, set to be the largest in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is planning to integrate an electronic system that connects prison departments with prosecution offices and judiciaries in order to expedite the process of being released on bail or sentencing inmates. A significant number of expatriate workers are languishing in various prisons for road traffic accident-related death, forgery in residency permits and other crimes.

Some of them have completed their sentences but there are delays on the part of the judiciary and sponsors in processing paperwork for release, said Naaz Vokkam, who regularly visits Dammam central prison.

Echoing these views, Mohammed Saleem Basha, an Indian driver who had spent seven years in the Faraj and Khamis Mushait prisons in the southern province and who was released by King Abdullah for paying blood money, told Arab News that prisons in small cities where he had served his sentence are spacious and satisfactory.

According to a report, 47,000 prisoners are lodged in various prisons in Saudi Arabia, of which 23,000 are Saudi, while 24,000 are expatriates. Of the expatriate inmates, 2,158 are Pakistani, 1,691 are Indian, 1,046 Bangladeshi and 1,400 Egyptian.

Foreign diplomatic missions conduct regular visits to prisons. Visitors are also allowed to meet inmates two days a week without mobile phones and any objects inside dress pockets.

Inmates are allowed to continue their education and enroll for vocational training such as electrical repair, plumbing and computing, among other vocations. Inmates are also allowed to pursue sports activity inside the prisons.

All prisons are equipped with hospitals and medical facilities.

Royal pardons granting release are usually implemented during the month of Ramadan. Release can also be contingent upon the memorization of the Qur’an and good conduct.

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News Network
July 5,2020

Riyadh, Jul 5: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has approved the extension of the validity of the expired iqama (residency permit) and exit and reentry visas of expatriates who are outside the Kingdom for a period of three months without any fee.

The iqama of expatriates inside the Kingdom as well as the visa of visitors who are in the Kingdom of which the validity expires during the period of suspension of entry and exit from the Kingdom will also be extended for a period of three months without any charge.

The validity of final exit visas as well as exit and reentry visas issued for expatriates, who are in the Kingdom, but were not used during the lockdown period will be extended for a period of three months without any fee, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting an official source at the Ministry of Interior.

The ministry source said that these measures were taken as part of the continuous efforts made by the government of King Salman to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on individuals as well as on private sector establishments and investors, economic activities in the Kingdom, following the adoption of the preventive measures to stem the spread of the pandemic.

The beneficiaries of the King’s order include all expatriates who are outside the Kingdom on exit and reentry visas, which expired during the lockdown period and after lifting of the lockdown.

These expatriates are not in a position to return to the Kingdom due to the enforcement of suspension of international flight service and temporary ban on entry and exit from the Kingdom.

The beneficiaries also include those expatriates who are still in the Kingdom after issuance of final exit visas or exit and reentry visas but could not travel because of the suspension of entry and exit from the Kingdom.

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News Network
January 3,2020

Hong Kong, Jan 3: Oil prices soared more than four per cent Friday following claims that the US had killed a top Iranian general, ratcheting up tensions between the foes and fuelling fears of a conflict in the crude-rich region.

The head of Iran's Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was hit in an attack on Baghdad international airport early Friday, according to Hased, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary force linked to Tehran.

Brent surged 4.4 per cent to USD 69.16 and WTI jumped 4.3 per cent to 63.84.

“Oil prices still have room for further upside as many analysts are still having to upgrade their demand forecasts to include a rather calm period on the trade front,” Moya said, referring to the warming trade relation between China and the United States.

“President Trump is likely to take a break on being ‘tariff man’ until we get beyond the presidential election in November.”

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Saudi Gazette
June 2,2020

Abu Dhabi, Jun 2: The United Arab Emirates on Monday recorded 635 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections in the country to 35,192, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM.

The new cases were detected after the health authorities conducted 30,147 additional COVID-19 tests citizens and residents.

The ministry also announced that 406 more patients have fully recovered after receiving the necessary medical care, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 18,338.

The announcement was made during the regular media briefing held in Abu Dhabi, wherein Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson for the UAE government, provided an update on coronavirus-related developments and measures taken to mitigate its impact.

During the briefing, Dr. Al Shamsi also announced the death of two patients from COVID-19, taking the total number of deaths in the country to 266.

"The number of COVID-19 cases still receiving treatment now stands at 16,588 from different nationalities," she added, noting that more than 650,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted over the past two weeks.

"Since the onset of the crisis, the UAE has focused on select segments of society, primarily the elderly and patients with chronic diseases, in order to ensure they survive the crisis," she added.

"We believe it is particularly morally important to support and stand by them, provide them with their daily needs, and keep them from harm’s way," she added.

Dr. Al Shamsi asserted that all precautionary measures announced, including the updated fines and penalties, will be enforced against violators, including citizens and residents.

"The law does not differentiate between citizens and residents. We are living in one homeland, which is for all of us," she continued.

"Your safety and health are a priority. We must comply with all precautionary measures. Though restrictions have been relaxed, caution must continue to be exercised."

Dr. Al Shamsi also warned, "Recklessness may undermine the efforts made by our frontline defenders. It is the responsibility of every individual to support protective efforts to ensure the safety of all."

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