JEDDAH, 13 February 2007 — As part of an initiative launched by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 18 prisoners who are serving time for financial debts will be released on Sunday. The JCCI plans to help 200 debt prisoners as part of this program.
The JCCI will cooperate with Al-Birr Charity Society and others to facilitate the release of the inmates. The program is being funded by donations from businesses to the tune of SR6 million, said the JCCI chairman.
“This comes as part of the House of Business’s role in supporting the community,” said JCCI Chairman Saleh Al-Turki, referring to one of the JCCI’s affiliate organizations.
Al-Turki signed the checks to clear the debts of 18 inmates during a ceremony on Saturday at organization’s headquarters in Jeddah.
JCCI Deputy Chairman Mazin Batterji, General Supervisor of the National Committee for Prisoners Care Abdullah Qassem, Jeddah Prisons Director Gen. Ahmed Al-Zahrani, Jeddah Court President Rashid Al-Hazzaa, and Mohamed Mirdad, a judge at the Summary Court, were present at the event.
Thousands of prisoners were released from Saudi jails last year under a general amnesty declared by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
