Police in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have said that more than 300 illegal migrants, mostly Africans have been arrested in various locations in the capital Riyadh over the weekend.
The operation was said to be the Saudi government’s policy of enforcing its migration laws and clearing the country from illegal migrants.
Last year, More than one thousand Africans, mostly Ethiopians protested at the Saudi Arabian embassy in London in what they described as cruel treatment of Africans migrant workers by Saudi authorities in Saudi Arabia. The protestors asked the UK government to intervene to save the situation.
Saudi officials then issued a statement after the protest, advising all illegal migrants in the country to correct their work and residency status before the end of the year or face being deported.
Many of the arrestees are Africans from East Africa with Ethiopians reportedly to be high on this last crackdown.
The Arab New English Newspaper reported that those arrested included 13 most wanted men who the police have been looking for various offences in the country.
The Interior Ministry said the operation was carried out in Manfouha, Hai Al-Wazara and Batha city center and that; there would be no amnesty for any of those arrested this time. The Ministry also added that those arrested will be investigated and some will be subject to fines and deportation depending on the nature of their cases.
The Arab New quoted an unnamed official from the Interior Ministry who supervised the crackdown as saying that: “Those arrested were of different nationalities and booked for various offenses such as overstaying their visas, running away from sponsors and people with ‘free visas’ looking for employment”.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter has become a save heaven for millions of people from Asia and Africa, who find work as common laborers, drivers, porters and house maids. Foreigners account for around 9 million of the country’s 27 million population.
But some of these workers, especially the African population are harassed and intimidated by their employers who subject them to various abuses and fundamental human rights violations.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News
Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail.com
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