Cameroonian reads her way out of UAE life sentence

...memorises entire Holy Quran

A female prisoner has walked free from a life sentence in a UAE jail as a reward for learning the entire Holy Quran.

Fatima bin Mohammed (pictured), from Cameroon, is believed to be the first woman in UAE history to learn Arabic, and to also memorise completely the holy book while in prison. Bin Mohammed, who was serving 25 years for importing hashish, converted to Islam while in prison and spent almost six years learning every word of the Quran.

Bin Mohammed is enjoying days out with her nieces and nephews after walking free from the sentence because she dedicated six years to the task, regularly going back and forth to her tutors at Dubai Central Jail to get the exact pronunciation and meaning of the words.

Now back in her native Cameroon, Fatima plans to set up a restaurant, travel and find a husband. She is living with her sister and enjoying family life.

“They had a little family event for me when I came home. It was very special,” she said. Until March, Bin Mohammed was serving 25 years for importing hashish. Now she talks by phone with her former prison roommate, who also dreams of getting a sentence reduction.