10 June 2016 – The Philippine Embassy in Doha reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that royal clemency was extended to 15 Filipinos as issued by the Emir, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in light of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Those granted clemency, as practiced in Qatar, are often those who have served a substantial portion of their sentence. The Emir usually issues pardons twice a year, during Ramadan and the Qatari National Day in December. The granting of pardons during Ramadan is practiced across the Gulf and is usually made around the time or during Eid’l Fitr, which is the celebration of the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The Embassy is coordinating with the Search and Follow-up Department under the Ministry of Interior to facilitate the early repatriation of the pardoned Filipinos. END