The youngster, called Ali, was jailed until he paid blood money to the family of a boy whose eye he gouged out during a fight. Arab News published Ali’s story in April and asked philanthropists to help raise cash for his release.

“The judge told me to go home to my mother after the money was paid to the other boy’s family,” said an ecstatic Ali. “I am out now. Thank you very much. I have been reunited with my mother and I am now living peacefully with her and my other siblings,” he added.

While at the detention center, Ali took time to reform himself and has memorized half of the Qur’an, something that he plans to continue now that he has been released. He has joined a Qur’an memorization school and is being paid a monthly stipend of SR800. “When I complete my education, I will be employed as a teacher and receive a higher salary,” he added.

An Arab News reporter met Ali during a visit to the juvenile detention center with the National Society for Human Rights. During that visit, Ali said his mother was SR180,000 short to secure his release.

The incident took place in Jeddah’s Al-Qurayat, an underdeveloped residential district where many poor foreign families live. “I ask all young boys my age to stay away from trouble and to spend their time in doing useful things,” he said.

Ali’s mother is divorced with six children and is elated that her son has returned home.