This incident has grabbed the attention of both the local and international media, and investigations have been carried out. The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) and the Human Right Commission (HRC) have rushed to react to what happened and have even hired lawyers to defend the maid, not to mention the many times they have visited her in hospital.
Everyone views these developments favorably, but where is the NSHR, the HRC and the Ministry of Labor when it comes to the pain and suffering that Saudis are subjected to by the government and private sectors. Where is that sense of humanity when it comes to Saudis who live in poor homes and tents? Where are these organizations when it comes to sick Saudis who fall victim to medical mistakes and negligence? We don’t hear from them, nor do we see them visiting people in hospitals or hiring lawyers to defend them.
What is the stance of these bodies when it comes to the slave-like conditions that Saudi security guards work in? These men are forced to work in the heat during the day and in the cold during the night for over eight hours a day, and are only paid SR1,500 a month without any incentives, salary increases or medical insurance. One man once told me he wished he were a maid so he could get more attention.
Where are these organizations when it comes to these people? Why don’t we hear them trying to better their plight? We never see them defending the rights of over 300,000 unemployed Saudis or fighting government departments to remedy their problems. There are many issues facing Saudis. Why is it that the NSHR and the HRC are neglecting them? Maybe they do not see their plight as a humanitarian issue? Perhaps there are varying levels of humans in their opinion? Perhaps they’re looking for cases that would have high media ratings just so they could be in the spotlight?
