Islamophobic Saudi Arabia Deports 40,000 Muslim Pakistanis, Citing Terrorism Concerns
Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images
FEBRUARY 15, 2017
Saudi Arabia has deported a staggering 40,000 Pakistani migrant workers in
the span of just four months, citing terrorism concerns.
the span of just four months, citing terrorism concerns.
The Saudi Gazette reported last week that “a number of Pakistanis were
held in the crimes of drug trafficking, thefts, forgery and physical assault.”
Authorities feared that some of the migrant workers were linked with ISIS,
or as the Saudis call the terror group, Daesh. Other migrants were deported
due to expired residency and work permits.
held in the crimes of drug trafficking, thefts, forgery and physical assault.”
Authorities feared that some of the migrant workers were linked with ISIS,
or as the Saudis call the terror group, Daesh. Other migrants were deported
due to expired residency and work permits.
“Against this backdrop, Abdullah Al-Sadoun, chairman of the security committee
of the Shoura Council, called for thoroughly scrutinizing the Pakistanis before
they are recruited for work in the Kingdom,” added the Gazette. “He asked
for more closer coordination with the concerned authorities in Pakistan to
thoroughly check those coming to work in the Kingdom due to the
involvement of a number of Pakistanis in security issues.”
of the Shoura Council, called for thoroughly scrutinizing the Pakistanis before
they are recruited for work in the Kingdom,” added the Gazette. “He asked
for more closer coordination with the concerned authorities in Pakistan to
thoroughly check those coming to work in the Kingdom due to the
involvement of a number of Pakistanis in security issues.”
While the Kingdom has long exported the jihadist ideological cancer of
Wahhabism to mosques and Islamic centers across the West, it has prided
itself in its effort to rid the homeland of terrorists threatening to undermine
the stability and sovereignty of the monarchy.
Wahhabism to mosques and Islamic centers across the West, it has prided
itself in its effort to rid the homeland of terrorists threatening to undermine
the stability and sovereignty of the monarchy.
Counter-terrorism raids are not uncommon in Saudi Arabia. In fact, counter-
terrorism agents recently arrested 15 Pakistanis in the Al-Harazat and
Al-Naseem districts of Jeddah on terrorism-related charges.
terrorism agents recently arrested 15 Pakistanis in the Al-Harazat and
Al-Naseem districts of Jeddah on terrorism-related charges.
Pakistanis have mostly traveled to Saudi Arabia looking for work. Many of
them take low-paying and dangerous jobs in the construction industry.
them take low-paying and dangerous jobs in the construction industry.
But leave it to Saudi Arabia to treat its migrant labor force with appalling apathy.
“Official Saudi statistics say that 243,000 Pakistanis were deported between
2012 – 2015,” reportsThe Independent. “Mass deportations of migrant
workers - which Human Rights Watch and other rights organisations say
often involve illegal beatings and detainment in poor conditions -
are fairly common.”
2012 – 2015,” reportsThe Independent. “Mass deportations of migrant
workers - which Human Rights Watch and other rights organisations say
often involve illegal beatings and detainment in poor conditions -
are fairly common.”
This all begs the question: Is Saudi Arabia Islamophobic? Well, if you’re
claiming that President Trump’s falsely identified “Muslim ban” (recently
rendered unconstitutional by a federal appellate court) is Islamphobic
because of the fact that it places a temporary freeze on the acceptance
of incoming refugees from just seven (out of dozens) of the high-risk
Muslim-majority countries in the world, then surely Saudi Arabia’s mass
deportation of tens of thousands of Muslims due to terrorism concerns
should ring some alarm bells.
claiming that President Trump’s falsely identified “Muslim ban” (recently
rendered unconstitutional by a federal appellate court) is Islamphobic
because of the fact that it places a temporary freeze on the acceptance
of incoming refugees from just seven (out of dozens) of the high-risk
Muslim-majority countries in the world, then surely Saudi Arabia’s mass
deportation of tens of thousands of Muslims due to terrorism concerns
should ring some alarm bells.
Is Saudi Arabia immune from the charge of Islamophobia because its
leaders are Muslim? Or, better yet, is the Left’s entire hysterical crusade
against Trump’s “Islamophobia” a red herring meant to delegitimize the
political opposition?
leaders are Muslim? Or, better yet, is the Left’s entire hysterical crusade
against Trump’s “Islamophobia” a red herring meant to delegitimize the
political opposition?
The bottom line is every sovereign state, whether it be Saudi Arabia,
Israel, or the United States, has a right to defend its borders and regulate
who comes into the country. Every sovereign state has a right, perhaps
even a duty, to protect its citizens against foreign threats, particularly
terrorist threats.
Israel, or the United States, has a right to defend its borders and regulate
who comes into the country. Every sovereign state has a right, perhaps
even a duty, to protect its citizens against foreign threats, particularly
terrorist threats.
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