An inmate at a Dubai prison was reunited with her parents after 14 years as part of a police programme aimed at improving prisoner welfare.
The woman, 33, from the Philippines had been at Dubai Women Prison, under the General Department of Punitive and Correctional Institutions, for more than a decade due to a drug-related conviction.
As part of their 'Let's Tolerate' programme, Dubai Police invited the inmate's parents to the prison to surprise their daughter.
#News | Dubai Police reunites inmate with parents after 14 years.
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The couple were greeted by Brig Ali Al Shamali, director-general of punitive and correctional institutions, and Col Jamila Al Zaabi, director of Dubai Women's Prison, before being taken to see her. It is not clear when the visit happened.
Col Al Zaabi said the Filipina inmate entered prison with a drug addiction but has since been rehabilitated with the help of a psychological support team.
She also chose to convert to Islam and has become financially independent after learning new skills in jail.
The inmate thanked police for their support, saying her life had improved after receiving training in handicraft skills and learning new languages, including Arabic, Russian and Nigerian.
The inmate's parents also thanked police for organising the meeting with their daughter and said the experience had a positive influence on her life.
In statement released by Dubai Police on Monday, Brig Al Shamali said the visit was part of efforts to “instill happiness in the hearts of inmates, officers and civilians”.
He said it was the second family reunion organised by the department.
The first was a surprise reunion between an Emirati inmate, who had been sentenced to 10 years in jail, and her mother after more than three years of being apart.
