Nizamudduddin for BeyondHeadlines
Saudi Laws:
Saudi Arabia is like a heaven for those opted to go for earning something reasonable than what they could get in their country.
Those working in Gulf are not NRI but are Overseas Contract Workers (even if a person in high position, earning something around 20-25 Thousand Saudi Riyals).
Relatively a good place with no social and political unrest but strictly governed by the local laws. Nothing wrong in that but, when the same law is applied with absurdity, the reason to live evaporates for those, who spend numerous years beyond bar with no hope to come out.
There are very many heartbreaking stories of Indians languishing in the Saudi jails. The Indian Mission is a lame duck, with no power and sincere intention to help those unfortunates.
I have one report on one such case which will trouble you to find out the solution. Of course, our own Government has no solution to it either.
Saudi Arabia is governed by the Sharia Law (?) which is applied by the Qadi as he understands the case which depends up on his mood. There are remote instances of a Saudi punished for contempt of the court. This luxury is not for the non Saudis.
The Case:
An Indian named Afzal Khan (resident of Solapur in Maharashtra), contracted by the Saudi to run his shop of Mobile accessories and SIM card sales. Behind the shop, the worker is provided with one room which is also used as a store room. The worker, his performance, his sincerity was good for almost 6-7 years.
A dark day of his life – He shuts the shop in the late evening and goes back to his room to retire for the day. There was a knock on the door, he opens it, 3-4 Saudis enter the room, beat him, tied him with ropes to the chair and pick up some boxes and disappear. Somehow, this poor chap freed himself and rush to the street and shouts for the help. The police arrive, pick him and take to the police station and his detention starts.
After a week or so, the Saudi owner tells the police that, this man has stage managed this and thousand of SIM cards were stolen from the store room by his friends.
The torture starts but nothing comes up. He was produced in the court with the owner’s complaints as evidence. The Qadi gives next date and ask to produce the confession, evidence and the Saudi owner. The police could not produce the evidence nor does the Saudi turn up.
This cycle goes on for many months and ultimately, the Qadi orders that if the Saudi is not turning up and if there is no evidence produced, he will order a release of the accused.
In between, the police, to get rid off, some how mange and force the accused to confess the theft. The Qadi passes the verdict – 4 years jail for negligence in his duties.
This verdict took almost 3 and half years and in six months, the accused finishes the term and supposed to be freed.
Suddenly the Saudi owner appears and claims that he lost huge money in stolen SIMS and want to recover around half a million Saudi Riyals ( almost approximately 80,00,000 Indian Rupees) from the accused.
Under the Saudi Shariah Law, if the financial claim is registered, one has to pay that and if he cannot, then the whole life he has to spend in the jail. Of course, if the Saudi pardons him, he will be released or, a NGO or any one, as a charity, can pay that money and secure his release.
This man is in a jail for almost 8 years. Many representation to the Indian Mission prompted cosmetic visits and response. Even a representation made to the Indian Foreign Minister by the relatives produced no result.
The person in his thirties when put in jail has two small daughters. The wife has no support from any quarters and doing some odd jobs to survive and take care of her daughters. With no hope of his return, she has no answer on what will be their daughters’ future.
Due to the faulty judicial methods, perverted Shariah Laws, it is not only the poor expats are suffering in Saudi jails with no end to it, but it is bringing bad name to Islamic Laws.
The poor chap has no connections with higher ups nor that he can approach the competent authorities in Saudi Arabia and in India, nor that he can afford to hire a competent lawyer to fight for his release, it seems that, he is destined to live in Saudi jail for the rest of his life.
