Kerala group retracts statement, says it has full faith in Saudi legal system

The Federation of Kerala Associations in Saudi Arabia (FOKASA), an organization working for Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia, has retracted its previous statement on Indian citizens convicted without a fair trial in the Kingdom, saying they have full faith in the Saudi legal system.
In a statement made on Wednesday, R. Muraleedharan, FOKASA’s president, issued a clarification regarding reports published in newspapers that Indian citizens detained in Saudi jails are convicted without a fair trial.
He said, “There was no reference to the Saudi legal system. They have full confidence in the Saudi legal system.”
The Indian Embassy on Monday termed FOKASA “an illegal organization” and has rejected its statements against the judicial system of Saudi Arabia and the embassy for allegedly not utilizing the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) effectively.
Earlier, the Kerala High Court in India admitted a writ petition filed on behalf of FOKASA seeking to issue direction to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to frame guidelines for providing legal assistance to Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia.
The petition said, “The majority of Indian citizens who are held in jails and detention centers in Saudi Arabia are not in a position to hire a lawyer. Consequently, they are convicted without a fair trial and even without knowledge of the charge details against them.”
However, FOKASA now says that the petition submitted by it at the High Court of Kerala was for seeking to give direction to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for providing legal assistance to all Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia entangled in legal issues, including that of the kidnapped fishermen in Iran.
The petition urged the court to issue directions to the Indian missions in Saudi Arabia for properly utilizing the ICWF, which should include hiring Saudi advocates to provide legal assistance, it added.
“By filing a petition at the High Court of Kerala, the petitioners are exercising the remedies guaranteed under the Indian Constitution,” the FOKASA statement said.
Commenting on the Indian embassy statement the original petition submitted to the High court and alleged that they were twisting the facts to tarnish the organization's image.
It said it will file an interim petition at the court within two days, citing the embassy statement and other newspaper reports and will seek swift action from the court.