Muscat – The Fak Kurbah initiative, involved in paying off the debts of those imprisoned for insolvency, successfully facilitated the release of 1,219 prisoners in its 11th edition in 2024.

This achievement was announced at a press conference held at the Crowne Plaza Muscat on Monday evening.

Dr Hamad bin Hamdan al Rubaie, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Omani Lawyers Association, highlighted the widespread participation from governmental and private institutions, as well as individuals for the fund generation, which contributed to this year’s success.

Among those released were 261 individuals from North Batinah, 202 from Muscat, 154 from Buraimi, 153 from Dhahirah, 128 from South Batinah, 98 from North Sharqiyah, 72 from Dakhiliyah, 67 from South Sharqiyah, 62 from Dhofar, 16 from Al Wusta, and six from Musandam.

Since its inception in 2012, the initiative has helped secure the release of 7,100 individuals.

Dr Mohammed al Zadjali, Chairman of the Omani Lawyers Association and overseer of the initiative, described it as an annual voluntary effort launched during Ramadan.

Its aim is to secure the release of insolvent individuals and detainees or those under a conditional detention order, provided they have not benefited from previous editions of the initiative.

“There are a few conditions that we put forward to the 45 courts across the country,” Dr Zadjali explained. “The debt must not exceed RO2,000, the case must not be criminal or repetitive, and the individual must be in prison or have an arrest warrant against them.”

He recounted how the initiative began in 2012.

“It all started in one of the courts when a woman was in distress following her debt of just RO200. Out of pity, another woman present at the proceedings gave her the money to save her. That’s how the idea germinated, and we have continued for 11 years now, seeking the relief of over 7,000 people, including Omanis and expatriates.”