JEDDAH, 12 June 2006 — Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday commended the amnesty declared by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to prisoners held in different parts of the Kingdom for violating private and public rights.
According to sources, some 4,000 prisoners including expatriates are expected to benefit from the amnesty, which was declared at the start of the king’s tour of the Eastern Province and other regions.
“The royal decree issued by the king that calls for the release of people detained for violating private rights after they pay their debts and fines as well as the release of prisoners held for violating public rights involves both Saudis and expatriates,” the minister said. “Saudi Arabia is a caring country that seeks to treat all people equally, irrespective of their nationalities. The Kingdom takes its inspiration from the divine teachings of Islam that stresses justice and equality for all,” Naif explained.
He said people all over the Kingdom are happy with the royal gesture, as it would reunite many families with their loved ones. “I expect that the amnesty would cover a large number of prisoners,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as saying.
“We hope that those who benefit from this royal gesture live up to the expectations of the king and repent to God for the wrongs they have committed in order to lead a new life as useful citizens of the country,” Naif said in his statement.
Maj. Gen. Ali ibn Hussein Al-Harithy, director general of prisons, said the royal order would be implemented within 48 hours. He estimated the number of prisoners held for violating private rights to be between 3,800 and 4,000. Al-Harithy said panels for the release of prisoners in different parts of the Kingdom would start their work immediately to implement the royal order as quickly as possible. In Jeddah alone, more than 1,500 prisoners are expected to be released.
