Kidnapped, beaten and robbed

I came to Saudi Arabia from India three weeks ago to work for a company in the Industrial City near Azizia Iskan. On Oct. 31 2009, I signed out of work after 5.00 p.m. and waited for a bus or a taxi to Batha where I am presently living.

A taxi driven by a person speaking Hindi/Urdu with a Bengali accent stopped. Seated behind were three blacks. It is difficult for me to guess their nationalities because I am new in the Kingdom.

After about 10 minutes, the driver drove into a side alleyway. When I told the driver that this was not the way to Batha, the blacks seated behind started slapping and punching me. They took a red piece of cloth and tied it around my mouth and kept thrashing me. They robbed me of all my belongings, including cash and my bag. They wanted my iqama or passport. But I only had a photocopy. They threatened repeatedly to kill me. I pleaded with them not to kill me. I told them to take whatever they wanted. They snatched my mobile. Finally the driver slowed down in an isolated location and pushed me into a ditch and sped away. I was shocked and terrorized. Tears flowed from my eyes. I had been kidnapped, beaten, threatened with death, and was lying in a ditch. I was lost with no mobile and no cash.

My body was aching after being mercilessly beaten; I got out of the ditch and got onto the road. I saw a truck coming. I signaled the driver to stop. The truck driver who spoke only Arabic understood my plight. He was kind enough to take me to a place where Indians live. I narrated my ordeal to them and they gave me water and tea. One of them escorted me back to my room in Batha. Some of my friends tell me that the ordeal that I encountered is nothing unusual. Many others have been robbed too. I want to use your newspaper to inform your readers and authorities about my ordeal and draw their attention to the dangerous gangs that are operating in Riyadh. I urge the authorities to take appropriate action, apprehend such criminals and implement the Islamic laws of the Kingdom in a stringent manner.

Muzaffar Hasnain, Riyadh published 4 November 2009

Unsettling statements

This is in response to the front-page story “Clinton moderates statement on settlements” (Nov. 3). During her recent visit to Israel, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “What the Prime Minister (Netanyahu) has offered in specifics of a restraint on the policy of settlements which he has just described, no new starts for example, is unprecedented in the context of prior to negotiations.” This is newly invented doublespeak from the US secretary of state. It was not unexpected! The US never was and will never be a neutral mediator in this conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, said that while Israel was willing to enter into peace talks without preconditions, the other side was not. All this chicanery of Netenyahu’s is just to buy time and fool the world community. He isn’t interested in any compromise. Palestinians and sympathetic Arabs and Muslims can just whistle for US help. It’s a will of the wisp. Israel only understands the language of power and Hezbollah has given them a taste of its own medicine. Let the Palestinians learn that no one helps those who don’t help themselves. They have to gather themselves to fight this monster.

Naim Naqvi, By e-mail published 4 November 2009

Puffing away billions

This refers to the report “Saudis puff away SR8bn annually” (Nov. 2). The report is true but alarming. It said smoking-related diseases kill at least 33 people in the Kingdom every month. According to the report, Saudi Arabia ranks fourth in the world in terms of cigarette consumption. About 30 percent of Saudi youngsters between 13 and 15 years have experimented with smoking while 11 percent continued the habit. There should also be a report on obese people. The negative impact obesity has on an individual, both physical and financial, should be reported. It should also focus on the extra cost the nation has to bear taking care of obese people over and above normal weight. We all know the costs of health care for such people as they develop diabetes, heart disease, cancer, gout, etc. I would say that they cost society even more than smokers do and obesity is fast becoming commonplace.

Kab, By e-mail published 4 November 2009

Hillary’s doublespeak

All her (Hillary’s) pronouncements in TV interviews in Pakistan that America is turning over a new leaf in its relationship with Pakistan has been short-lived. The moment she left Pakistan she again became rude and arrogant which is typical of American behavior. She brushed aside Pakistani concerns that Indians are involved in fomenting troubles in FATA, NWFP and Balochistan. (Couldn’t she remember US Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who observed that increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan would exacerbate regional tensions and would encourage Pakistan to take countermeasures?) Since Pakistani nationals confronted her — at every opportunity — about the Kerry Lugar Bill, drone attacks (US terrorism in Pakistan) and bad American policies, she could not face the reality and immediately showed her true colors by spitting venom against Pakistan which she was hiding behind her charismatic personality. Our soldiers are being killed every day; our citizens are dying every day and she had the audacity to say Pakistan was doing very little. What an ungrateful nation the US is!

Shah Affan, By e-mail published 4 November 2009

Are our kids safe at school?

It is one incident after the other that has provoked me to raise this question.... Are our children safe at school? Last week my 10-year-old son sustained an injury to his eye while being seated innocently on a bench munching on crisps during recess. This injury was caused by a football and thankfully he got away with a minor cut. This week my 7-year-old daughter sprained her right hand as the Physical Education instructor asked the students to run as fast as they could and touch the wall as part of the running competition. The safety and health of our children at school is a matter of grave concern. While the children are at school, the safety of the child is the school’s responsibility. It is paramount that this be attended to. I urge the concerned authorities to take appropriate measures and actions to ensure the safety and health of students are not overlooked. The private schools that are operating in every nook and corner of the city must be penalized for negligence and protect our children from sustaining life-threatening injuries or even death. This is a wake-up call to the authorities to act before another innocent child falls victim to the poor safety and health standards in schools.

Shabbir Husain, Riyadh published 4 November 2009

What is next?

It is reported that US President Barack Obama enjoys the support of only 6 to 10 percent of the Israeli public and according to the same report, the president’s advisers are searching for ways to reassure Israel’s public of Obama’s friendship and unqualified commitment to Israel’s security. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her recent visit has sought to reinforce the president’s intentions by dismissing the Palestinian conditions for peace talks with Israel — freezing new settlements. It is obvious that Israelis do not oppose Obama’s peace efforts because they dislike him; they dislike him because of his peace efforts. No US president will ever risk Israeli displeasure. Already we are seeing a change in Obama’s approach through Hillary’s utterances in Israel. We also can see that she is busy preparing the ground for her boss’ likely visit to Israel. Under these circumstances, can the Palestinians rely on the US for a comprehensive settlement or the much spoken of “two-state solution”? Palestinians have no faith in these so-called “peace talks.”

S. H. Moulana, Riyadh published 4 November 2009