The newspaper "Zaman al-Wasl" published a report stating that the two former ministers of social affairs and labour, Rima al-Qadiri and Kinda Shammat, held pending investigation, had been released.
The fact-checking team contacted "Baraa Abdul Rahman", director of government communication and media at the Ministry of Justice, and it emerged that the circulated report is misleading. Rima al-Qadiri was released on temporary bail, for lack of evidence requiring her continued detention at this stage, pending referral of the file to the referral judge for consideration, with the possibility of her being detained again according to what the judiciary decides, while the other remains in custody. This means the release at this stage does not amount to an acquittal or to the closing of the file.
The two ministers had been detained against the background of an investigation into files relating to the children of detainees and cases of criminal forgery.
Why is this claim misleading?
Expanding the scope of the decision: The claim generalised the temporary release on bail of one of the two ministers to cover both, despite the other remaining in custody, suggesting the judicial file had closed and that acquittals had been issued when they had not.
