Indian minister urged to take up huroob issue with Saudi officials

Indian expatriate groups have high hopes that the visit of Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid to Saudi Arabia will help resolve the issue of fraudulent huroob (unjust accusation of running away from a sponsor) that has landed many Indians in Saudi jails or prevented them from returning to India.
Unfortunately, however, Khurshid has postponed his visit to the Kingdom for unexplained reasons. He was scheduled to leave New Delhi for Riyadh on Saturday morning to hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and other senior Saudi officials.
Representatives of Indian organizations who took part in an Open House organized by the Indian Consulate General here yesterday said huroob was one of the major problems facing Indian workers. They said Khurshid should take up the matter with Saudi authorities during his upcoming visit.
Hundreds of Indians and other expatriate workers in the Kingdom have been jailed after their sponsors informed police that they have run away (huroob) from their firms or institutions when, in fact, they have not. Many Saudi employers allegedly report huroob to avoid paying salaries or in order to get new visas.
Speaking to Arab News, Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai said, “Huroob is a complicated issue. We have to streamline the recruitment process to prevent foul play by visa agents.” He said the consulate would extend all possible assistance to solve the problem.
KTA Muneer, a member of the OICC National Working Committee, said more than 50 percent of huroob cases could have been resolved with consulate support. “In my opinion, most Saudi sponsors are ready to solve this problem and let their workers leave on exit visas,” he told Arab News. He said the consulate should have more staff to deal with the issue and the Indian External Affairs Ministry should instruct the consulate to appoint enough staff to resolve the matter.
“I am sure all Indian social workers in Jeddah will be ready to support the consulate in this matter,” Muneer said, urging the consulate to set up a database of huroob workers.
There were also calls for the Indian press to take up the huroob issue and to pressure the New Delhi government to meet with Saudi authorities in order to resolve the problem. Sreejesh from Kerala, who is facing huroob and was jailed for three months, said Kidwai has promised to help him. He said his sponsor, who did not give him an iqama, had orchestrated his imprisonment with the help of police.
Kidwai said there are 445 Indian prisoners in Saudi jails in the Western Region. He disclosed plans to set up a database of prisoners. “SR 300,000 has been collected during the India Festival. This money will be used to release prisoners,” he said.
Asked whether the consulate has any plan to establish an Indian school in Makkah, Kidwai said he would discuss the possibility of setting up a school outside the Haram area with Saudi authorities. “Measures will also be taken to create more seats at the International Indian School, Jeddah to meet the needs of the growing numbers of applicants,” he said.
Fewer than 100 people turned up today for the Open House. “This proves most Indians working here either do not have any problems or the consulate is doing its job efficiently,” the consul general said.
Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC) took up the case of Bapputti, also from Kerala. Bapputti’s iqama expired six years ago and he has not been able to visit India for the past eight years.
“The consulate has agreed to issue an emergency certificate, which will enable him to get an exit-only visa from the Jawazat,” said PMA Jaleel, Vice-President of Jeddah KMCC.
According to Siyadat Ali Khan of Khak-e-Taaba Trust, most problems that Indians face in Saudi Arabia are related to their sponsors. “The consulate can play a big role in solving many of these problems.”
KMCC President Ahmed Palayat welcomed the open house program and urged the consulate to take quick measures for holding elections for the IISJ managing committee to ensure smooth and transparent operation of the school.
KMCC called upon the consulate to appoint employees who can speak different Indian languages and a Saudi lawyer to take up the legal cases of Indian workers.
“The consulate should provide female Indian workers who have run away from sponsors housing until repatriation formalities are completed,” Palayat said.
“We have also requested the consulate to win the release of Indians jailed for violating Iqama and labor regulations and who have served their sentences,” said EP Ubaidulla, Acting KMCC General Secretary.
The KMCC also urged the consulate to provide much-needed help in Makkah, Madinah and the international airports to the increasing number of Indian pilgrims who come for Umrah.