Home 
MANILA, Philippines—A total of 32 Filipino women who have been languishing in jail in Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates, have been granted a pardon by the UAE ruler in the spirit of Ramadan, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
Most of the women prisoners who received the pardon from Sheik Hamad bin Mohammed were in jail for light offenses such as theft, adultery and violation of immigration rules, said Ed Malaya, the DFA spokesperson.
“The DFA conveys its deep gratitude to Sheik Hamad bin Mohammed for the granting of pardon to 32 Filipinas in jail,” Malaya said.
“Through this gesture, His Highness has once again affirmed compassion, charity and generosity as a virtue that is at the core of Ramadan,” he added.
Ahmed Bajunaid, head of the assistance to nationals section at the Philippine consulate in Dubai, reported that 21 of the prisoners returned to the Philippines this week, but did not give the dates.
The rest are waiting for their relatives or friends to provide them with air tickets, he said.
The UAE government grants a pardon to inmates on occasions like the Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan; the Eid al Adha, which marks the end of Haj, and the UAE National Day every year.
The release of the 32 prisoners in Fujairah followed the Philippine consulate’s official request before Ramadan for the pardon of Filipino inmates in Dubai and the northern emirates, The National, the UAE’s online newspaper, reported.
The consulate earlier sought clemency for 30 to 40 Filipinos who were detained mostly for immigration offenses in the emirate of Sharjah, and also for 20 Filipinos, mostly men, who were convicted of murder and drug-related and debt-related cases in Dubai.
It was not clear whether the 32 women released in Fujairah were included in the consulate’s request.
The DFA said that pardons are granted for humanitarian reasons, but other factors taken into consideration include the nature of the crime, the length of the sentence, how much of a jail term has been served and the behavior of the prisoner while in jail. Faith and nationality are not usually taken into account.
Philippine embassies and consulates abroad periodically send a list of all detained Filipinos to the rulers of Muslim-led countries.
