Qatar Emir pardons prisoners upholding the tradition in Ramadan

As a part of the annual Ramadan tradition upheld across the Gulf, HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani pardoned a number of prisoners as an act of extending goodwill to the expat population of Qatar.

The Emir usually pardons inmates twice a year, during Ramadan and on National Day. Many of the pardoned prisoners hail from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

There were at least seven Indian prisoners among those pardoned by the Emir, Gulf Times reported. An unnamed senior Indian Embassy official told the paper the men were serving short sentences, and at least some had been serving up to three years for cases including theft.

During last year's Ramadan, atleast 74 prisoners including Indians, Nepalis and Sri lankans convicted of fraud, possession of narcotics, sexual abuse and theft were pardoned.

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