Businessman honours Year of Giving with Dh100,000 to release prisoners

Yaqoub Al Ali met with Brig Mohammed Al Mur, director of the Human Rights Department at Dubai Police.

DUBAI // A businessman has donated Dh100,000 to help in the release of inmates serving time for financial debts.

Yaqoub Al Ali met Brig Mohammed Al Mur, director of the human rights department at Dubai Police, who said that Mr Al Ali’s donation was part of the Year of Giving initiative, launched by President Sheikh Khalifa.

“This donation will help in the release of prisoners who are in debt and will also help them to purchase tickets to their home countries after serving their sentences,” said Brig Al Mur.

He said that a committee will be formed with General Directorate of Penal and Correctional Institutions to study the cases of prisoners who can benefit from the donation.

“This is an important humanitarian role to help in the release of those in debt,” he said.

Last month, Pakistani cricket player Shahid Afridi donated Dh80,000 to help in the release of 25 inmates with unpaid debts.

Sheikh Khalifa decreed 2017 as the Year of Giving. There are three main themes: strengthening social responsibility in the private sector, promoting a spirit of volunteering and strengthening the concept of serving the nation in new generations of Emiratis and expatriates.