Gulf News (06th August 2001)
By Nissar Hoath and Aftab Kazmi

The decision by President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to pardon 6,000 prisoners has been praised as a fine humanitarian act. The number of prisoners involved in the amnesty has been described as unprecedented and may be the largest ever pardoned by a head of state.

The amnesty applies only to prisoners held in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. It was announced on Wednesday by Maj Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Undersecretary of Interior. He said it had been granted on humanitarian grounds and to give the prisoners a chance to rejoin society.

Ansar Burney, Chairman of the Washington-based Ansar Burney Welfare Trust (ABWT) International, commended Sheikh Zayed. "It's an unprecedented step which will give prisoners a chance to reunite with their families and to become law-abiding and useful members of society," said Burney from the U.S. by telephone.

Burney noted that the UAE's justice and prison systems are of world standard and officials are constantly improving them. "I have visited several prisons in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah, and all have the basic facilities."

Sheikh Zayed's humanitarian efforts have won international recognition, he said. "He has played a vital role in the resolution of various international conflicts and has contributed towards the uplift of poor people and distressed communities around the world, irrespective of their caste, colour or creed."

The ABWT admires UAE policies on Kosovo, Palestine, Bosnia, Chechnya, Kashmir and Iraq. The ABWT, established in 1980, is a registered non-government, non-political, non-profit human rights organisation. It has several wings including the Prisoner Aid Society, Bureau of Missing and Kidnapped Persons and Commission Against Terrorism.

It has a main office in Karachi and branches in several countries, enabling it to win the release of 300,000 innocent prisoners. It has also traced 45,000 missing children and re-united them with their families.

The President's pardon was also welcomed by the Afghan Embassy. The majority of prisoners among expatriates are Afghans jailed most often for violating immigration laws. Acting Charge d'Affaires Hafiz Azizur Rahman said, "President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has always been in the forefront in humanitarian services. He has always pardoned prisoners, especially on Eid, Ramadan and other such occasions.

"But this amnesty will be recorded in world history. I believe this is the largest number of prisoners ever pardoned on humanitarian grounds." Meanwhile, in Ras Al Khaimah, police yesterday released 45 national prisoners from the Ras Al Khaimah Central Prison.

Colonel Sheikh Talib bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chief of Police, said the prisoners had been jailed on charges other than murder. By law the families of murder victims have a say in the punishment of murderers and the amnesty of a murderer is not up to the state alone, he said. He added that another group of prisoners would be freed soon.

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