The discussions were held at a workshop organized by the Makkah governorate under the patronage of Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, on Monday. Representatives of about 40 organizations and agencies in the government, security, civilian and academic sectors participated in the workshop, which was organized as part of the governorate’s initiative to further improve reform programs for inmates of jails and reformatories in the Makkah region.

The workshop, inaugurated by Abdul Aziz Al-Khudairy, undersecretary at the governorate, discussed five major topics. These included evaluation and improvement of the existing reform programs and identify the major procedural impediments, reform programs and their role in correcting the behavior of prisoners, improving working environment for implementing reform programs, carrying out studies on setting up endowments to support the program, in addition to ensuring participation of the private sector and businessmen in supporting the program. In his opening speech, Al-Khudairy described the workshop’s theme of jail reforms as one of the major topics concerned with rehabilitating inmates, which is part of the Makkah strategy announced by Prince Khaled nearly five years ago in front of 15,000 citizens at Umm Al-Qura University.

“The issue of jails and prisoners is one of the key responsibilities to be shouldered by society as a whole. Taking care of prisoners and their families in addition to fulfilling their requirements and ensuring their reforms are a social responsibility,” he said while urging the participants to exert efforts to reform prisons in Makkah.

Addressing the gathering, Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Harithy, director general of prisons, said Makkah in its capacity as the main center of Muslims worldwide has to realize a lot in terms of development and modernization. “Fulfilling the rights of prisoners is our responsibility. We have to undertake this responsibility through extending the best possible care for the prisoners,” he said, while underscoring the need for enabling them to return to the society as reformed and productive citizens. Referring to major handicaps that stand in the way of reforming jails, he specially noted the infrastructure facilities and problems regarding jail rules and regulations.