Counsellor Humaid Shaheen Al Ali, a judge at the Umm Al Quwain Federal Primary Court, has been honoured by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his humanitarian act towards an Afghan family in a touching gesture that highlights the UAE’s dedication to justice tempered with compassion.
The incident dates back to 2019 when an Afghan father appeared in court facing a substantial fine of Dh60,000 for overstaying his family’s residency visas. Accompanying him was his young son, named ‘Zayed’ in tribute to the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Moved by the family’s story and their respect for the UAE, Judge Al Ali took the extraordinary step of paying the remaining fines from his own funds, effectively closing the case. He stated, “This is to celebrate the 48th UAE National Day.”
The community responded well to the judge’s deed, and it finally made its way to the highest echelons of authority. In a recent ceremony, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed personally commended Judge Al Ali, praising him for embodying the nation’s core values of mercy, dignity, and humanity.
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Judge Al Ali reflected on the recognition, stating, “What I did wasn’t an exception. It was a continuation of the legacy of our founding leader, upon which this nation was built and its people flourished.”