Dar Al Ber Society (DABS), assuming 62.5 percent of the activities of punitive and correctional institutions department in Dubai, spent Dh180,000 on diverse cultural programs last year to educate the inmates, develop their awareness, and train them.

H.E. Abdullah Ali bin Zayed, executive director of Dar Al Ber Society, said the 37-year-old charity association spares no effort to support all vulnerable segments of the society with special attention prisoners’ rehabilitation.

“Dar Al Ber ran four important courses in four languages last year to enlighten the inmates here about the ‘ethics of Quran memorisers’, and rewarded participants with valuable prizes, worth Dh100,000.”

The Society also runs an annual contest in memorising a number of Quran chapters and 40 prophetic Hadiths (Sayings) in the holy month of Ramadan, he added. “Winners go with cash prizes up to Dh80,000.”

H.E. Bin Zayed said they are set to hold a new course in Arabic language on how to memorise the holy Quran next month. “The same course will be organised twice in Arabic and Urdu while participants will be presented with cash prizes.”

Dar Al Ber organizes Quran memorization sessions at the Dubai punitive and correctional institutions on a daily basis, he elaborated. “The Society scholars also deliver a number of lectures in collaboration with the Islamic Information Centre.”

Meanwhile, the Society provides all the education and rehabilitation stuff inmates may need. “These include religious books, CDs, brochures, and other items. “New Muslim inmates are also taken in consideration.”

Recently, the Society had a meeting with the officials concerned at the punitive and correctional institutions department in Dubai to review the annual plan and agenda of the cultural activities and events being organised for the inmates here.

Present at the meeting were Faisal Sahrawi, manager of activities and events, Redaa Al Hassan, head of teachers and students section, Faraj Al Kuthairi, deputy manager of the Islamic Information centre, DABS.

Also present were Captain Mohammed Abdullah Al Ubaidali, manager of inmates’ education and training department, Majid Mohammed Al Rahmani, head of religious programs section, and Mohammed Eissa Al Yasi, head of education programs section.