RIYADH, 8 August 2004 — Taxi drivers face frequent harassment at the hands of the police, their sponsors and unruly customers, some of whom even mug them or assault them. Their problem is compounded by the risk of rash drivers and high-level connections that allow people to commit an offense with impunity.

Interviews with a cross-section of taxi drivers have revealed that they are often driven to distress.

A case in point is that of Hagi Abdul-Mir, a veteran taxi driver in Riyadh, who describes a beating he was subjected to at the hands of an angry youth. “I was pulling out of turn when a car came flying out from the other direction at a ridiculous speed, barely missing me,” Abdul-Mir said.

The driver of the other vehicle got out angrily and proceeded to beat the bewildered taxi driver and smash his taxi with a metal rod. It was not until the aggressor was about to leave that a police car spotted the two and came to investigate. The police took the violent youth into custody after the taxi driver, injured and bruised, said he wanted to file assault charges against him.

Once in the police station, the driver was informed that pressing charges would be a waste of time as the youth was the son of an official. Eventually, the driver had to settle for nothing more than a verbal apology from his attacker who was released immediately afterward.

Mohammed Q, a taxi driver in Riyadh, spent five days in jail because of lack of cooperation from his sponsor. “I was involved in a car accident and taken into custody by traffic police. I was told to pay SR3,300 in damages because I was at fault,” he said.

Unable to pay the amount required immediately, Mohammed was taken to the lockup in the police station where he was allowed to contact the taxi company that was his sponsor. “It was not until the second day that the taxi company sent a representative to see me, and when he came I found out it was to repossess my car.”

Mohammed then contacted his brother who found out that in order to be released from the lockup, a paper was required from the taxi company stating that they will stand guarantee for the driver and the amount required. The taxi company, however, refused to issue such a paper because the driver owed them rent for his car.

“Raising the money is not a problem, but I can’t do it while I am in jail,” Mohammed says indignantly. “I need to be out and about in order to take care of my affairs, and this is something the company should realize.”

Nour Al-Din, a taxi driver for over eight years, gave an account of another such incident involving “unjust” police. “I was broadsided by a man in a van who was paying more attention to his phone than to the road,” he explains. “The police came and asked the man what happened. Of course he gave his version and when I tried to give my side the policeman refused to listen.”

Nour Al-Din was taken into custody and asked to pay SR2,800. “I called my sponsor and they sent a representative within a few hours but he came only to take the car. When I asked why he replied ‘so that rent on the car does not accumulate’ on me,” he says. “I would like to know why the taxi company does this? They don’t care what happens to the drivers as long as they get their money. If my friends hadn’t raised the money for damages, the company would have done nothing and I would still be in jail,” he yells angrily.

Not all drivers, however, are fortunate enough to escape with a few bruises or some jail time.

Abdul-Satar, a 45-year-old Bangladeshi taxi driver, was shot and killed by three youths who tried to mug him. “The three youths entered the taxi and forced the driver to hand over all his money, after which they attempted to steal his car. During the struggle that followed, one of the youths took out a gun and shot the driver point blank,” describes Hassan Ibrahim, manager of Al-Safa’a Taxi Company.

Police found the driver wounded and bleeding and rushed him to hospital, where they were able to question him and obtain descriptions of the attackers. “The police found the car and the culprits within three days. Regrettably Abdul-Satar died a few days later from the gunshot wound,” says Hassan. “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Taxi drivers are often being mugged and attacked. Drivers are coming to me with bruises, injuries and even stab wounds,” he continued.

Asked if there were any measures being taken to protect the drivers he replied: “Allah sees and protects everyone. All we can do is pray to Allah and hope for the best.”

When Arab News asked a number of drivers for their opinions and ideas on the situation, two main points were raised: Protection from customers and better regulations on the part of the company.

“It would be a good idea to have a screen between the back seat and the front, and to have the passengers ride in the back just like in a police car,” explains Farhan F. “Of course, it won’t be done because it would cost the company too much,” he says cynically. Mohammad Q goes on to say, “The company needs to revise its policies. It is in their benefit to get a driver out of jail so he can go back to work and pay what he owes instead of remaining in the lockup and accumulating debt.”