Many have expressed satisfaction at the Kingdom’s decision to fingerprint visiting Americans. The decision was in response to an American decision to fingerprint most Saudis visiting the United States.
The effect such a measure would have on Saudis could be profound, following the embarrassing searches and unjustified humiliations they endure at many American airports. I don’t know what effect such a measure will have on the Americans.
Many questions could be raised here: How many Americans come to the Kingdom to study in our schools and universities? How many come here seeing medical treatment? How many visit our country as tourists to see its different regions? How many come here to conclude profitable business transactions?
In return, how many Saudis have said they want to pursue their education in the US? How many are already registered there? How many Saudis seek medical treatment in the US and how many go as tourists and businessmen?
The truth is that most Americans who come here do so either by invitation or because they have been offered jobs. Their employment contracts guarantee them material and moral rights, thus rendering airport formalities insignificant.
The damage and harm inflicted on Saudi citizens whose dignity and morality have been injured and who stand accused without evidence of a crime has not been confined to the treatment they receive at airports. It has even been extended to include the sick applying for visas to seek medical treatment in the US.
The American authorities stall and delay instead of rejecting the applications right away which would be preferable.
Some patients have died while waiting for a visa — which surely makes it right for their families to seek compensation? Doesn’t America claim to be the land of the law?
These and other woes suffered by Saudis will not just disappear because an American citizen is searched at a Saudi airport. Here too in their own country, Saudis are also subjected to airport searches.
9 November 2002
