During the past few weeks, we were all following the developments in the case of the Saudi student, Abdullah Alkadi, who went missing in the United States.
According to initial police investigation, he disappeared after he went to meet prospective buyers for his car through the website Craigslist. After that no one heard from him leaving his family devastated.
However, on Oct. 17 it emerged that he has been murdered. The report left us all shocked and proved to be a grim reminder of the recent murder of another Saudi student, Nahid Almanea, in the United Kingdom.
The memories of that gruesome incident were still fresh in our memories and as we were reeling from the impact of that murder, another shocking incident has added to the sorrow. We all stand by the side of the victim’s family and offer our deepest condolences to them over their tragic loss. We pray to God that the criminals are brought to justice at the earliest.
These incidents have raised an important question in the minds of all Saudis studying abroad: Are we safe?
According to official statistics, the number of Saudi students enrolled with foreign universities across the world has exceeded 150,000.
Despite the fact that only two cases of homicide have been reported from two different countries, these cases cannot be ignored at any cost.
It has become all the more important to Saudi students spread across 30 countries to practice caution. As a matter of fact, Saudi students in other countries are more vulnerable to burglary, blackmails and swindlers.
It is very important to carefully choose the area of one’s residence. While it could be tempting for students with tight budget to opt for cheap accommodation but they should keep in mind that safety comes first.
Checking the crime rate in one’s neighborhood of choice is vital. If the crime rate is high, one should prefer a small accommodation in a relatively safer area.
It is also obvious that no matter how safe one’s neighborhood might be, it is vital that one does not walk alone late at night. Instead, use a cab.
Abdullah Alkadi reportedly used a website that contains advertisements of all kinds and the deal takes place directly without a trusted third party. And again it is very tempting for students as goods and services offered on such websites are usually cheaper than the ones offered by more legitimate means.
We should think about safety first, as we have absolutely no reason to trust complete strangers.
At the end, we need to stay connected and should maintain cordial relations with our neighbors. Also don’t hesitate to report any suspicious movement or action from anyone to the police. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
—
@HatoonKadi
