JEDDAH, 6 October — Maj. Gen. Ali ibn Hussein Al-Harithy, director-general of prisons, stated yesterday that there are more than 28,000 prisoners in the Kingdom and said his department is doing its best to improve their lot by upgrading administration and rehabilitation programs.
Speaking to Al-Riyadh Arabic newspaper, he called for the cooperation of officials in both private and public sectors to develop the country’s prisons.
“We have to try our best to help rehabilitate prisoners, who are trying to find the right way.”
Al-Harithy, who took charge last week as director-general of prisons, said he will soon conduct an inspection tour of prisons in various parts of the Kingdom to assess conditions there.
Interior Minister Prince Naif and his deputy Prince Ahmad have emphasized that efforts must be made to carry out rehabilitation programs inside jails so that prisoners behave as good citizens when they are let out, he said.
Jail terms will be reduced to half if prisoners memorize the Qur’an.
Married couples who are jailed are allowed to spend time together, Al-Riyadh also reported, and relatives can visit a prisoner a month.
Prisoners can also make telephone calls, watch television and read daily newspapers.
