Convicts In West Sumatra Get Spiritual Development During Ramadan

Illustration-Hundreds of inmates at LPKN Sawahlunto while attending the opening of the rehabilitation program some time ago/Photo: Antara

PADANG - The Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of West Sumatra (West Sumatra) held a spiritual development program for Muslim inmates during Ramadan 1443 H.

"For one full month we have carried out a spiritual development program for all Muslim fostered residents in the form of the Ramadan Islamic Boarding School," said Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of W Sumatra R Andika Dwi Prasetya, in Padang, Tuesday, April 5.

He said the activity was carried out simultaneously in all correctional institutions (lapas) or state detention centers (Rutan) in the province with a total of 23 units.

The West Sumatra Ministry of Law and Human Rights noted that currently, the number of inmates in West Sumatra has reached 6,000 consisting of convicts and detainees, about 97 percent of whom are Muslim, so Ramadan has an important meaning for them.

He said that in the Ramadan Islamic Boarding School fostered residents would acquire various religious knowledge ranging from reading the Koran, ablution, praying, and others.

"The Holy Month of Ramadan is a moment to foster spiritually, mentally and spiritually the inmates in order to increase faith and piety," he explained, quoted by Antara.

This step, he said, is expected to change the attitudes and behavior of the inmates in a better direction to prepare them for when they return to the community.

Meanwhile, for night activities, continued Andika, the inmates can hold tarawih and tadarus prayers while still taking into account the security situation and the ability of the officers to supervise.

"It is selected, where tarawih is carried out alternately per room, while tadarus is limited only to prisoners who have been tried by the TPP (Penitentiary Observer Team)," he said.

He said prisons or detention centers could bring in lecturers or teachers from outside if they were deemed safe and possible.

The West Sumatra Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office is determined to continue to carry out coaching in order to motivate the inmates that they can become better human beings and deserve to return to the community.