Zain Anbar

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Several families in Jeddah are reluctant to take back daughters who have been released from prison after serving sentences for various crimes.



“About 30 percent of families have totally refused to take back women who have been released from prison after serving their jail terms,” said one director of a social protection home for girls, Ibtissam Al-Dhalie.



Young female convicts usually serve their prison terms in social protection homes in various parts of the Kingdom where they are taken good care of.



Al-Dhalie, director of the social protection home in Jeddah, said the home is keen to monitor released girls through home visits and telephone calls to make sure that they are stable and in good condition.



She said the home has convinced about 70 percent of the families to take back their daughters but failed to do this with the remaining 30 percent. She said the home is assisted by a number of concerned departments including reconciliation committees.



Al-Dhalie said a number of government departments and NGOs are also cooperating with the home to provide a number of services to girls who are still serving their jail terms.



“We receive assistance from a number of government and private hospitals, schools, human rights organizations, social security and various other government and private organizations,” she said.



Al-Dhalie said the social protection homes provide the incarcerated girls with a number of services including accommodation, sustenance, medication, clothing and social services.



She said the homes are also providing the girls with education and rehabilitation.



“We teach them handicrafts and how to be good housewives,” she added. Al-Dhalie said the homes provide the girls with entertainment, training courses and transport to schools and hospitals.