RIYADH, 23 May — Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Ali Al-Namlah has announced that the government plans to establish a charitable fund for the welfare of prisoners and their families.
Speaking to Okaz Arabic newspaper, the minister said the government as well as businessmen and philanthropists would contribute to the fund that will have an independent budget. “The money will be added to the annual allocations for the social welfare agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs,” he said.
The fund will be managed by the recently established National Committee for the Care of Prisoners and their Families. The money will also be used to finance development projects inside jails.
“Our ministry will play an active role in the training and rehabilitation programs at all jails in the country,” Al-Namlah said.
Deputy Governor of Riyadh Prince Sattam said in a recent statement that the government had devised an ambitious plan to develop prisons in all parts of the country. He was speaking to reporters after inspecting prisons and reformatories in Malaz and Haer in the Riyadh region on Sunday. “All prisoners including women inmates are given good care by the prison officials,” he said.
Prince Sattam lauded the Interior Ministry’s move to bring prisons under an independent authority. At present, they are under the public security department.
At the Malaz prison, which accommodates more than 1,300 prisoners, Prince Sattam received a number of complaints and letters from the inmates explaining the problems they face inside the jails.
Prince Sattam’s inspection tour included a penitentiary for women. He also opened a rehabilitation center at the reformatory in Haer. The facility, which is supervised by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, included a computer training center and a large laundry.
The deputy governor opened a number of industrial projects established by the private sector for the benefit of the prisoners.
