Hostage in prison

This is not the first time I come across this scenario. In fact, it’s the third time. Ibtisam Al Dakhil, a woman who was accused of supporting the Iraqi regime during the invasion, had to spend more time in jail than she was supposed to. She was pardoned by the Amir but because some civil servant didn’t agree with His Highness, the pardon letter was conveniently misplaced. Almost two years later, the Amiri pardon had to be re-issued for this woman to be released. Still, with the help of diplomats, her lawyer and friends, it wasn’t easy to get her out of Kuwait. For about two weeks, the Ministry of Interior kept playing games to further delay her release and I had to rebook her flight ticket twice before she was allowed to leave Kuwait.
Also, there is the case of another woman, Sabiya Saleh, who was found guilty of committing adultery and is still in Central Jail after serving more time than she was sentenced for. Of course, because she is a bedoun, nobody cares about her situation. Not only this woman is being denied freedom, she is also being denied the psychiatric care she needs due to the severe deterioration of her mental condition which requires immediate attention.

Kuwait Times, Wednesday, April 27, 2006
by Muna AI-Fuzai

Can you imagine yourself forgotten in jail? You have committed a crime and were sent to prison for ten years and then simply forgotten there. Twelve years later no one is bothered to review your file and find out why you are still locked up?
This is a real agony. A local Arabic daily recently told this man's story. I have to admit that this catastrophe was not completely new to me. I heard and received emails about similar circumstances. Most of the expatriates who send me similar emails want to keep their names out of the newspaper for fear of retribution but the new press law prevents the cover of source identity and obliges the writer to present stories with full and clear details.
On August 22, 1994 a Kuwaiti man was charged with forgery and theft. He received three suspended orders in jail. Each one of them was due for twenty-one days. On August 27, 1994 he was sent to prison and received a court sentence of ten years in jail. In 1996 he was included in the Amiri Amnesty but was not allowed to leave the prison until today.
Now we are in 2006 and this man is still in jail two years after-his sentence is up. He served more years than he should. This man should be out, a free man. He finished his period and the question is why is he still in jail?
This is not a movie script but a real tale that is actually happening now in Kuwait. What should we call it? Human rights violation or maybe the spread of corruption has reached the prison and caused a severe pain to this man and prevented him from leaving the jail and live freely even after paying his debt to society?
What can this man do? He sent a letter to an Arabic daily about his trouble and I also present his problem today for more sharing until this man is free. His condition is unacceptable and the Minster of interior should act urgently to at least review the case.
The man's status is unfair and contradicts all human laws. I'm fully confident that the Minster of Interior is an honest man and he will do his best to release this man and maybe others in the same position.
I also urge the Minster of Interior to investigate the holding orders in the police stations. There are some complaints from expatriates being held for days with no charges or in simple cases such as not carrying their civil ID. And until the sponsors decide to show up, it might be too late and the reputation of Kuwait might be endangered too.

munaalfuzai@kuwaittimes.net

Ambassador censures
ill-treatment of domestics

Maid sustains eye impairment, critical bruises due to beating
The Daily Star, Thursday, April 20, 2006
Ricky (Amir) Laxa

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Philippines in Kuwait has deplored what he described as abuse against Filipino domestic workers in the country. He said that the embassy will not tolerate such ill-treatment, adding that Kuwait's judiciary is fair, and that justice will be served.
The ambassador gave the statement while commenting on A.B., a Filipina domestic helper who was allegedly beaten up until unconscious by employers. The maid suffered a blood clot in her head and vision damage to the right eye due to heavy pounding on the face. "I have spoken to the employment agency responsible T A.B., and we (the embassy) have summoned the employers, who refused to accept the accusations," Ambassador Ricardo Endaya said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Star.
He added that the embassy has filed a case against the couple (the employers). He pointed out that the embassy will appeal for dismissal of the employer (a National Guard officer) from his job and will settle all damages and expenses caused by this case.
The employer, who works as a National Guard of Kuwait, and his wife, a reputable school teacher, were accused by the Filipina domestic helper of constantly beating her, depriving her of food and sleep and refusing to pay her salary for the past four months.
A.B. arrived from the Philippines on February of this year and recalled being slapped on the face by her female employer for failing to find a certain item of clothing the employer was looking for. She claimed that she had been constantly beaten, hit with mops several times, poked in the eye and kicked in sensitive areas of her body by both of her employers. A.B. said that she asked her female employer for her salary, as her husband and two small children needed financial support.
Her female employer went on a rage, grabbed her head and slammed it against the wall. She was kicked and punched in the face and later asked to continue cleaning the living room. As soon as her male employer arrived, the beatings continued.
He grabbed her by the arm and slammed her body against the wall and was hit multiple times with a stick, causing her to fall on the floor.
As she bled profusely, she was dragged to the police station by her male employer and accused of stealing one thousand Kuwait dinars and jewelry, which the police authorities refused to believe.
The chief police officer took pity on her condition and rushed A.B. to a nearby medical center, which treated and cleaned her up. She was then referred to the Adan hospital by the attending doctor as her condition worsened.
Doctors at Adan gave her an immediate and thorough check-up, suspecting there may be hemorrhaging of her internal organs. Attending medical doctors at Adan refused to release her back to the employer, who was very persistent to take her home.
A Filipino nurse called the Philippine Embassy and reported the case. Angelita Fernandez, Attache and an assistant to Filipino nationals, rushed to the hospital and found A.B. half conscious.
Along with an interpreter, a case was filed immediately against the employers for physical injuries and brutality.
The employer tried to bribe her not to file the complaints against him and his wife and promised A.B. thousands worth of cash and jewelry and with instructions to lie to doctors that she fell to the ground, which caused the bruises on her face and eyes. Nevertheless, A.B. refused and a case was officially filed against the employers.
"I just want to go home and see my family; I never told them about my condition as I don't want them to worry about me. I come from a poor family and have dreams of providing a good education for my children. I just hope that my former employers will not do the same to domestic helpers who willwork for them in the future," said A.B., who is currently under the custody of the Philippine Embassy and is undergoing medical checkups. She is receiving counseling and care under the care of Attache Fernandez.

Expat rights delight

Arab Times, Wednesday, April 19, 2006
By Dr Samar Rashdan Al-Roomi

WITHIN GCC countries, many expats (especially laborers and domestic help) end up being physically, emotionally, and/or financially abused, while their transgressors roam free and continue their abusive ways. Please note that many of these abusers also abuse their spouse and children).
Many expats (understandably) would like things to change and to become part of that change. This, however, is currently only a whimsical dream in Kuwait. What is only a dream in Kuwait, nevertheless, is a growing reality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.
In the UAE, human rights protection growingly knows no boundaries. According to an article published in a March edition of the UAE Gulf News, discrimination in the UAE is a thing of the past. Leaders of the country's first human rights group (consisting of a seven-person council, three of which are women) are planning to work with local authorities and international organizations to stop human rights abuses. More important is the fact that expats will be included as associate members of this council. The chairman is quoted as saying that "We have to address aspects in the country (that) we are not comfortable with such as human trafficking, the issues of housemaids, and unpaid workers... I think the government has approved the creation of our group, because they are convinced something needs to be done about these issues." Another council member remarked how such issues make the UAE look bad internationally.
Like the UAE, Bahrain has sought to increasingly protect the human rights of expats. Bahrain and the UAE are the only two GCC countries to form such human rights organizations, which have transparently opened themselves to international scrutiny. According to a March article in Bahrain's Gulf Daily News, Bahrain police immediately arrest Bahraini citizens accused of expat maltreatment (often at the request of foreign embassies) and Bahraini courts are beginning to prosecute citizens of such mistreatment.
Is Kuwait going to be the next GCC country to step to the fore and make such drastically modern human rights changes? Let's hope...

Email: samaralroomi@yahoo.com

Maid locked in bathroom as employers vacation

In today's paper there was another awful story about an abused maid. If I had the power to go back and change the course of events; I would get the few good people out of Kuwait and let Saddam give the rest of them what they deserved 15 years ago. Those who don’t respect freedom don’t deserve it either.


The Daily Star, Saturday, April 15, 2006

Embassy officials file complaint, vow to take action

Ricky (Amir) Laxa

KUWAIT: A Filipino domestic worker was locked inside the bathroom by her employers, who then left on a ten-day holiday. The maid, who was able to escape through the bathroom window, fell to the ground and sustained a broken hip bone and bruised knees. Bystanders rushed her to the hospital and representatives from the Philippine Embassy immediately filed a legal case against the employers.
Based on the complaint, the domestic claimed that her employers locked her inside the bathroom every time they would leave the house. She added that food and water were supplied to her inside bathroom.
The constant verbal and physical abuse became unbearable, and that is why she finally escaped, she said.
The domestic helper is currently in the care of the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA). She is recuperating from the injury.
An OWWA representative stated that there is an alarming rise in the number of physical, mental and sexual abuse cases amongst Filipino domestic helpers, and that the Philippine Embassy and Philippine Overseas Labor Organizations (POLO) are constantly providing care and legal assistance to the victims.
R.A., a representative and member from the association
of secretaries and administrators of placement agencies in Kuwait, stated that domestic helpers should contact agency representatives through lists provided to them should the need arise.
R.A. also claimed that most employers discourage or confiscate mobile phones for domestic helpers, and use of land lines is usually strictly prohibited. R.A. stressed the need for the helper to find every possible ways and means to contact their agencies or the
OWWA department at the embassy.
Ambassador of the Philippines to Kuwait Ricardo Endaya and POLO have taken strict measures to implement protection against the abuse committed against domestic helpers.
"We have suspended and stopped issuing job orders to local agencies that are currently facing legal cases, and we will continuously do so until they properly comply with labor rules," said Endaya.