Sharjah, Aug 23 - The ruler of the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pardoned 275 prisoners of various nationalities serving jail terms in Sharjah prisons, WAM news agency reported Sunday.

The gesture by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi came on the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The pardon affects only those prisoners who have served half of their terms and displayed good conduct during their stay in the prison.

The director general of Sharjah police, Brigadier Humaid Mohammed Al-Hudaidi, said that the gesture would encourage the prisoners to lead a decent life in the future.