Imagine meeting a loved one who has been away from you for a long time. And imagine the intensity of emotions when a brother father mother sister languishing in jail in another country is reunited with his or her family. Emotions ran high at the Sharjah Reformatory and Punitive Establishments (SRPE) when a number of inmates who were sentenced to death life and other long jail terms were crying embracing kissing their family members who arrived from various countries during the ongoing GCC Inmates Week.

The humanitarian initiative organised by the Sharjah Police Department was held under the auspices of Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior under the slogan "Together to Achieve Reform". The annual GCC Unified Inmates' Week activities that includes a bazaar inmate's village featuring products made by the inmates workshops and competitions kicked off on Sunday.

Khaleej Times experienced an atmosphere mixed with happiness and sadness at the reunion between the inmates an their families who arrived all the way from Oman Egypt India Iran Kuwait Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Though all expressed happiness to see their family members they were also sad at the fact that their loved ones were in jail and that they may or may not get a chance to see them again as some were serving life terms some long jail terms while some others have been sentenced to death.

The families of the inmates hailed the initiative of the police department that bore the cost of their trip and stay to allow them to see their sons and daughters again.

'I will be executed in 2 years'

Kalander Amna and Noshad Shadi Indians from State of Kerala were crying hugging their brother M.Shadi (32) who was sentenced to death for murdering another Indian man eight years ago. The siblings of the inmate told Khaleej Times that they appreciate the initiative of the police of bringing them all the way from India just so that they could meet their brother whom they may not see again.

They said their brother came to the UAE nine years ago to work and support their poor family in Kerala but he got involved in a murder crime and was sentenced to death. His punishment will be executed after two years. "Oh God I can't believe that they will kill my brother after two years" said Aman while crying and hugging her brother.

Sharing his story as to how he landed in jail M.Shadi said that eight years ago he accompanied his friend to meet some other friends - whom he did not know - to resolve a dispute with them. He said that when he reached the apartment of the victim there were three other guys present there and all of them got involved in a heated argument with the victim. "My friend stabbed the victim several time until he died. I didn't do anything. I was just there at the time of the incident. Police arrested all of us - four people - but my friend confessed that he was the only one who stabbed the victim but the court didn't listen and charged us with murder and sentenced us to death penalty stamping it as the final verdict.

I will be executed after two years I don't want to die and I memorise the holy Quran and pray all day to Allah to help me" he said while crying and embracing his sister.

A destitute mother

A woman L.F arrived with her three children - aged 5 8 and 10 years - from Afghanistan to meet her husband sentenced for life for his involvement in drug trafficking case. The wife said that she was struggling in her country as she had no one to support her and her three children. She said this was the first time she was meeting her husband since he was jailed and also it was the first time he would be able to see his fiver year old daughter who was born while he was in jail. "He said he repented to God and wished that his term would be reduced so that he would be able to get back to his family and start his life afresh."

'They do not believe me'

Mohammed (34) shed tears of joy when he met his grandfather father wife and sister who came to meet him from Oman. Mohammed is imprisoned for life for his role in trading and trafficking drugs. He said he was arrested in 2011 when police sent him a decoy who bought the drugs from his friend who handed him the cash. The police found the cash (marked notes) Dh20000 in my pocket and arrested me. "They did not believe me when I said that my friend gave it to me to keep it in my pocket" he said.

'My daughter not a prostitute'

Baheera mother of a female inmate from Iran came along her other two daughters. Her daughter Maeed 24 was sentenced for one year in jail for her involvement in prostitution. She said Maeed who is her eldest daughter got arrested a week before her wedding. Her fianc and his family dumped her after the charge. "But my daughter is not prostitute she went to attend her friend's birthday in some apartment and the police arrived and arrested all those who were present at the apartment. She didn't do anything wrong and did not even know the men present there apart from her fianc. I made all the preparation for her wedding and we were planning to go back home to celebrate the wedding in Tehran but all things fell apart after her arrest" said the mother while crying.

" I have now served eight months of my jail term and two months are left for my release. I have also appealed to prove my innocence. I didn't do anything wrong" Maeed said.

'He was a successful banker'

Kenzy wife of an Egyptian inmate said that her husband S.L was a banker in one of the popular banks of UAE. "We were very happy and he was earning well. We lived in the UAE for four years before his arrest on the charges of consuming and possessing tramadol." He was sentenced to four years in jail.

One day he was talking on the phone and then left the house telling her that he was going to meet a friend. "But he didn't come back. The police arrested him and found tramadol pills in his pocket. I couldn't do anything and didn't know what to do but to just go back to Cairo with my children." It was the first time she was meeting him since he was arrested three years ago.

Group fight

Another inmate Kh 30 was reunited with his brothers sisters nieces and nephews who came down from Khor Fakkan to meet him. Kh an Emirati is awaiting verdict for his involvement in a group fight that saw the use of fire arms and traditional Arab weapons.

In his defence Kh said he was called by his friend to help resolve a dispute with some other friends. "When we reached the place of meeting I saw a number of guys divided in two groups. They started abusing each other and a fight that saw the use of fire arms sticks swords started. Some people were injured and the police arrested all those who were involved in the fight including me." He has not received his jail sentence as yet.

'He was to graduate soon'

A mother along with her daughter and son arrived from Jordan to meet her other son who was arrested at the Sharjah Airport with Tramadol pills in his pocket. She told Khaleej Times that only four months were left for her son's graduation but he decided to come to Sharjah to meet some friend. Some of his other friends in Jordan tipped off the Sharjah Airport authorities that he was coming to the emirate with drugs in his pocket.

He was sentenced to four years in jail and we have appealed in court hoping he gets released before so that he can return to his university.

Skyping services

Col Khalifa Al Merry Director of SRPE said that the initiative aimed reducing the pain of the inmates and gives them a chance to meet their families. "We invited four families from various countries and 16 families of expatriates living in the UAE" he said.

On the sideline of the event Saif Al Zari Sharjah Police chief inaugurated the services of Skype to allow the inmates to talk to their families back home twice a the month. The move is aimed to make families feel comfortable that their sons and daughters are being treated humanely and are in good health and psychological condition.

Afkar Abdullah