Prisoners grateful to be given family time

Reunions take place at Sharjah Central Jail as part of GCC Inmates Week. Families were flown in for the event, which is in its fourth year and is held in jails across the country.

SHARJAH // Mariam sat patiently, eyes fixed on the door at Sharjah Central Prison, waiting for her daughter to appear. It had been eight months since the grandmother last saw her child, and the anticipation and stress were almost unbearable.

“I miss her so much, she has been in prison for eight months,” said the Iranian.

Mariam, whose daughter was a week away from getting married when she was arrested and jailed, was accompanied by her grandchildren, Khlood, 8, and Muhra, 3. The youngsters were excited to see their aunt. “I want to hug and kiss her. I miss her a lot,” Khlood said.

The bittersweet reunion was organised as part of this year’s GCC Inmates Week. In its fourth year, it briefly reunites families with loved ones who are serving prison sentences in jails across the UAE.

It is often the first time families have seen mothers, fathers, wives and husbands since they were locked up.

Sitting at a table, her eyes full of tears, an Egyptian woman held her daughter, three-year-old Farida, as she waited for her husband to be led into the room.

“My husband was a banker, he got mixed up with bad people and now he is in prison,” she said. Since her husband’s imprisonment, she said, the family had endured difficult times as they came to terms with his absence and tried to sort out their living arrangements.

Her husband, K A, was finally led into the room for an emotional – and precious – reunion.

“The evening with my wife and daughter is priceless. Hopefully, we will be reunited soon,” K A said.

Col Khalifa Al Marri, acting director of Sharjah Central Prison, said some of the families who attended were flown in especially by the organisers, in addition to 16 who live in the UAE, to enjoy an evening with their loved ones.

“Families were greeted at the airport and they were hosted and will be fully taken care of until they leave.”

Among those who received help to attend the event was a Jordanian family that was flown in to see H F, who is serving a four-year sentence.

“He had four months left before graduation when he was arrested at the airport,” said the inmate’s mother, adding that the initiative was a big help for families of prisoners.

Syrian inmate A A enjoyed the chance to spend time with family members. “I am serving three years. I am so happy to be with my son, brother and sister. Unfortunately, my wife is in Syria and could not make it here.”

A A’s brother was thrilled to have dinner and share a few hours with his sibling. “Once he completes his sentence, we will go back to Syria and carry on with our lives,” the brother said.

K S, an Indian, visited his brother who is serving an eight-year prison term. “My brother is serving a long sentence. The arrangement by the prison system is beautiful and allows us to reconnect and enjoy our time without a glass separator between us,” K S said.