Kingdom disputes media report on Indian prisoners

DAMMAM — There are more than 2 million Indian workers in Saudi Arabia and they enjoy full rights like expatriates of other nationalities, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development said, disputing the content of a report published by the Indian media. The media report claimed that the majority of Indian prisoners abroad are in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “The content of the report is not accurate. All foreign workers including Indians enjoy their full labor rights,” said the statement carried by Al-Watan Arabic daily. The report said there are 1,696 Indians in Saudi prisons. Together with Indian prisoners in the UAE, they represented nearly 42 percent of the country’s prisoners in 72 countries. The ministry said the report should have mentioned the reasons for the detention of Indian workers. “We would like to emphasize here that all foreign workers in the Kingdom are treated equally,” said Khaled Abalkhail, spokesman for the ministry. “We have a contact center offering services in nine languages, including the Indian languages,” he pointed out. According to information provided by the India's External Affairs Ministry, the highest number of Indian prisoners abroad — 1,696 — is in Saudi Arabia, followed by the UAE and Nepal, with 1,143 and 859 prisoners respectively, the Indian press report said. The total number of Indian prisoners in the Gulf states stood at 2,839, the report said, adding that 49 Indian prisoners have died abroad since 2013. The Tribune India newspaper said Indians were imprisoned abroad for different reasons, including immigration/visa rule violations, overstay and illegal entry, non-possession of legal travel documents, economic offenses, working without visa, drug trafficking, theft and murder. Khaled Al-Fakhry, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission, said Saudi Arabia applies its laws on foreigners like other countries. Those who are involved in prohibited and illegal activities will be punished as the country considers them as crime. The punishment includes imprisonment. “Saudi Arabia ensures a fair trial for all suspects,” Al-Fakhry told Al-Watan. He said some of the crimes are related causing harm to other people. After serving the sentence, foreign prisoners will be deported to their respective countries at the Kingdom’s expense, he said, adding that it leaves a heavy economic burden on the government. “All workers in the Kingdom receive humanitarian treatment, be they work in private companies or homes,” Al-Fakhry said, adding that some of them are imprisoned for violating the residency and labor law.