I recently read a story in the papers about two Indian nationals who work for a Saudi travel agency. The story is that the Saudization committee arrested these two men for not obeying the Saudization rules.
You see, dear readers, the government recently passed a regulation as part of its Saudization program that forces Saudi travel agencies to change all non-Saudi employees that deal directly with the public to Saudis.
In addition, it seems that the government has not given these companies enough time to comply. These employees need to undergo special training.
This, however, is not the issue.
The issue is that these two Indians were incarcerated for 48 hours in highly uncomfortable and unsanitary conditions after undergoing a humiliating process of having all their hair shaved off.
The question, dear readers, that begs to be asked is what in blue blazes these two unfortunates have to do with whether the company that employs them is conforming to the regulations or not? How can they possibly be held responsible for the behavior of their employer? These two men came to the Kingdom with a valid work permit and were legally employed by their company and were performing their contractual duties.
And where did this head-shaving business come from? Is it a statutory punishment that will be applied to all contravening companies? Or will it only apply to their expatriate employees — Westerners excluded, of course?
I am very sure that there is nothing in the law that mandates shaving off people’s hair.
Who is the idiot who came up with that odious and barbaric idea?
I call upon the authorities look into this matter and punish whoever came up with the head-shaving business. This is something that offends all decent human beings and brings disrepute to our beloved country and all its citizens.
By the by, this incident highlights a characteristic which has become associated with Saudis these days. This characteristic is the Saudis’ unique courage in the face of those who are weaker than them and their bravery before those who they are absolutely sure can’t fight back.
What makes this doubly shameful is that this is regarded amongst us as patriotism.
