UAE’s Sheikh Khalifa releases 3000 prisoners as a Ramadan gesture

Dubai – UAE’s president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed  Al Nahyan ordered release of 3000 prisoners of various nationalities on Thursday to mark the beginning of the auspicious month of Ramadan.

Sheikh Khalifa has also pledge to settle the financial obligations of the prisoners.

Sheikh Khalifa’s grand gesture is to forgive the prisoners and provide them the chance to repent and restart a good life, and also to alleviate the sufferings of their families.

The custom of releasing the prisoners is common in the Arab world that goes back to the time of Prophet of Islam – 14 centuries ago – where even the mortal enemies of the Muslims were forgiven in order to let them introspect and revert.