All inmates deserve the opportunity to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, says Vice President Faisal Naseem.

The Maldivian Vice President made the remark while speaking at the ceremony to mark the closing of the first drug rehabilitation program and a certificate course in electrical wiring for inmates of Maafushi Prison, held on Tuesday.

Taking the podium at the ceremony, VP Naseem noted that every inmate in the custody of Correctional Services Should be offered the opportunity to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.

As such, he noted that the prison system as well as the society must view inmates as people who could have the ability to better themselves and become productive citizens.

Shedding light on the discrimination facing those in police custody, VP Naseem urged the community to treat them with “respect” and “integrity”.

He also pushed the community to offer inmates the opportunity to reintegrate into society as “successful” members of their families.

During the ceremony, the Vice President applauded the inmates who completed the rehabilitation program and certificate course, and urged them to strive “hard” to avoid repetition.

The Vice President also talked about the initiatives led by the incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, to battle drug trafficking and smuggling as well as other drug offences.

The program was carried out by the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS).

It was launched in February this year, with the aim of providing detoxification and substance abuse treatment, training as well as vocational education to drug offenders.

Certificates were presented to 32 inmates who completed the program, at Tuesday’s ceremony.

The ceremony was joined by the Minister of Home Affairs, Sheikh Imran Abdulla, Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem as well as the Commissioner of Prisons, Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu.