Behind the bars of Briman Women's Prison in Jeddah inmates are discovering new horizons for themselves, and in some cases rediscovering themselves anew. With the help and support of prison management, some are finding artistic talents they never knew they had, and others are being given the opportunity to refine their skills, with some of their works having been displayed at major exhibitions around the Kingdom. Painters, designers and craftswomen are all turning their backs on their pasts and looking towards a more productive future. “When I first came to the prison I had a lot of pent up frustration and was struggling with a deep sense of regret. I couldn't take life anymore,” says prison inmate Sara*. “But the treatment I received from the prison management and staff when I came here made me feel like a person again. When I showed them some of my paintings they gave me great encouragement. In the training center they provide us with everything we need.” Sara was sentenced to jail for an act of moral impropriety. She is also the mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old boy who lives with her in the prison. “I couldn't find any relative outside the prison who I trusted enough to look after my son until my release. I was really afraid at first of bringing him up in the prison, but I needn't have feared as the child care here is very good, they provide us with everything from food and clothes and a kindergarten. If I was out of prison I wouldn't have found facilities as good as these for my child.” Amina says it is her talent for design and embroidery that has seen her through life in prison. “I've worked in embroidery for 30 years, and before I was in prison I used to work from home, designing dresses for wedding celebrations and other occasions. I was also good at making children's clothes and men's shirts. I used to make a decent amount of money from it, enough at least to cover my family expenses. Later on I worked at a well-known tailoring shop where I stayed for a long time.” “I've continued this work inside the prison,” says Amina, “and if it hadn't been for my talent in this area I don't think I would have survived prison life.” “I used to neglect my prayers, and feel as sense of internal frustration, to the point where I didn't even feel as if I we're a human being at times. But after entering prison I got closer to God.” After regret Fatima found she had a talent for writing. “I didn't know I had it in me before. Maybe it was there, but I just didn't know it. But after I came to prison I was hit with this great sense of regret and I found myself writing as a way to express that and the other internal conflicts I was going through. I wrote a piece called ‘After Regret', and friends and other inmates read it and encouraged me to write more. It has helped me make better use of my time in prison, and overcome what I keep suppressed inside and deal with my internal conflicts. “ “I was always good at reading and writing and when I came to prison I joined its Center for the Eradication of Illiteracy and learnt a lot,” Fatima continues. “Now I can read fluently and write well. It's all down to my teacher. I feel she's more of a sister than a teacher. I have also received great support and help from another of the trainers who teaches me handicraft work and I study for seven hours a day. I've now become very good at embroidery and design and I hope that it will serve me well when I leave prison.” Teacher Najwa Suheil says that for some inmates prison has been their first opportunity to make a qualitative advance in life. “The prison has made great strides with its literacy work,” she says. “Most of the women when they come here don't even know the alphabet and can't pronounce words correctly. Despite initial difficulties they have, bit by bit, learnt to write and pronounce correctly and fluently.” Umm Mohammad has a child and is in prison for an act of moral indecency. “Time in prison can be insufferable, there is intense boredom, and you have all the time in the world to remember and reflect on your sufferings, which I do especially when I look into my child's eyes and see the sadness and dejection in his innocent face,” she says. “Thankfully I have been able to overcome all that with the help of one of the workshop trainers who has helped me learn flower-arranging skills and make children's clothes. This has helped all of us in the prison to feel wanted as people and help us overcome the sense of isolation,” Umm Mohammad says. Nahid Matar is one of the trainers at the prison's art, design and handicraft center. “We try to bring out the talents of inmates. Some of them when they come to us have no skills in the areas we train them in, and some of them have some previous experience. We instruct them for seven hours a day with a short break in between. We try to build a spirit of companionship and sisterhood between them. It helps them overcome their fears and worries and their sense of inhibition. We treat each inmate as a human being, and don't let the nature of their crimes come into the equation, so that they may in turn learn to be welcoming and accepting of society, and be prepared for life outside of prison. The paintings some of them have done are evidence of that, as is the excellent handcraft and design work they have done.” Return to morality “Each prison inmate is different,” says prison head Fouzia Abbas. “Some show clear signs of repentance through improved behavior and increased respect for morality and values and their rejection of disruptive behavior.” “Some of them have expressed their talents through productive works such as paintings, some of which have been put on display at large events such as the Janadriya festival. We have been taking part in the Janadriya festival for the last five years with displays of handicraft works and paintings done by inmates, some of which have even been sold. Other works by inmates have been shown in annual exhibitions supported by the Chambers of Commerce.” “There is no doubt that the use of spare time helps inmates in terms of improving the behavior of those who show indiscipline. We work hard to prepare inmates for the world outside, to make them persons of good moral conduct and keep them away from crime.” “We respect the humanity of each individual inmate,” Abbas continues. “Most of the women are here because they have made moral mistakes, not because they are inherently criminal persons. So we treat them as such. It is our job to reform the character of the inmate, to “recrystalize” her in every aspect, to form a person of sound morality and a human being at one with herself.” – Roaa/SG * Inmates' names have been changed to protect the identities of the individuals. __
