Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's first model reformatory will be operational in Riyadh within five months, according to the Director General of Prisons Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Al-Hamzi. He said: “The reformatory, with a capacity to accommodate 7,500 male and female inmates, could rightly be described as an integrated city. “Similar reformatories will eventually be opened in all regions of the Kingdom.” Al-Hamzi made the remarks while opening the 2nd Unified Gulf Inmates' Week at the King Fahd Cultural Center on Monday evening. The theme of the week is “Hold my hand toward the best future”. Spelling out the features of the model reformatory, Al-Hamzi said it would house full-fledged educational institutions, factories and workshops for vocational training, farms open for the cultivation and herding of all types of livestock, and fully furnished facilities to organize reform programs, including social and cultural and recreational ones. The reformatory will make available all facilities and services that would enable inmates to obtain a fresh start. The General Directorate of Prisons has introduced several reformative and rehabilitative programs at the prisons in cooperation and coordination with several government agencies, including the ministries of education, higher education, social affairs and Islamic affairs; Technical and Vocational Training Corporation; Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON); the National Committee for Taking Care of Prisoners; and private agencies and voluntary organizations, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Abdullah Al-Harbi, spokesman for the directorate, said a large number of prisoners have benefited from these programs. “These included 47 inmates who secured bachelor's degrees after sitting for the examination at prisons, 48 inmates who memorized the Holy Qur'an in full and more than 7,000 inmates who have benefited from the vocational training program,” he said. He unveiled plans to enable some inmates to do doctoral studies after completion of their post-graduate courses. Al-Harbi said a wide variety of activities and cultural programs are being held during the week in various prisons across the Kingdom. At the Riyadh function, a drama was staged by inmates. An exhibition of paintings and drawings of the inmates is also being held as part of the week. He said prison authorities are taking advantage of the support of prominent Saudi artists in providing training to the prisoners. “Eminent artist Abdul Hafez Al-Ghamdi trained more than 150 inmates in Jeddah prison. Of these prisoners, 70 were released and they are now working under Al-Ghamdi outside the prison.”
