Mideast Youth - Thinking Ahead

More discriminative and racist behavior against Indians (by Kuwaiti police)

August 21st, 2007Esra'a (Bahrain)

These two videos reveal what Indian migrant workers and expats within the Middle East, particularly the Gulf, have to put up with:

YouTube Preview Image YouTube Preview Image

Kia ora from Kuwait has this to say.

Not enough to disgust you? For more of such cases, refer to our Migrant Rights blog.

Assholes, Awareness, Civil Rights, Gulf, Kuwait, Migrant Workers, Racism, Videos
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16 Responses to “More discriminative and racist behavior against Indians (by Kuwaiti police)”

  1. #1 sillybahrainigirl - August 21st, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    Oh my God.. that’s terrible.
    If people in uniform do this… what do others do?

  2. #2 Esra'a - August 21st, 2007 at 7:56 pm

    If people in uniform do this… what do others do?

    Things like this.

  3. #3 gary - August 21st, 2007 at 8:10 pm

    Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy, another name for dictatorship. If all Kuwaiti people were allowed to vote, I wonder if they would tolerate this sort of abuse?

    Esra, it’s a good think you’re not a Kuwaiti. Otherwise you’d find yourself in jail for publishing this blog entry. According to Wikipedia…

    The government has managed to pass laws in the years 2005-2006 that restrict the freedom of speech. Laws such as the new media law, has become a huge obstacle for writers and citizens who might consider criticizing the government’s performance.

    Scarry stuff.

    gary

  4. #4 Esra'a - August 21st, 2007 at 8:14 pm

    Esra, it’s a good think you’re not a Kuwaiti. Otherwise you’d find yourself in jail for publishing this blog entry.

    I don’t think so at all - Kuwaiti journalists in the past have plastered such reports over nation-wide distributed newsletters and websites. Kuwaiti socio-political analysts get away with a lot, that’s why the arrested blogger (who is now released, FYI) came as such as shock to us.

    Also, I’ve been writing about these abuses for over a year now. I’m free, so are some of my friends at Bahrain Rights and BYSHR who continue to report and write about this on a monthly (sometimes weekly) basis.

    Dozens of Gulf-based bloggers write about this.

    Our problem is that contrary to popular belief, many people DO tolerate this and many of them ARE guilty of this - regardless of whether or not they have the “vote.” Don’t blame the government for what we are responsible for, as people. Saying “it’s the government’s fault” is just far too naive and over the top. It plays a role, and it should enforce better labor and employment laws/policies, but even if so, trust me, these abuses will continue to happen. The government isn’t entirely (most of the time, it’s not at all) responsible for the racism in our societies.

  5. #5 gary - August 21st, 2007 at 8:23 pm

    Hi Esra,

    My impression from Wikipedia is that it’s dangerous to exercise freedom of speech…

    Although no newspaper is permitted to criticize the Emir and the Crown Prince, the criticism of other members of the ruling family is permitted.

    And the tail end of the Politics section says this…

    Laws such as the new media law, has become a huge obstacle for writers and citizens who might consider criticizing the government’s performance. Lately there have been many newspaper writers sent to court for stating their opinions regarding the government or specific ministries’ performance. A court order to shut down a leading Kuwaiti newspaper AlWatan for three days (first in Kuwait’s history). Moreover a magazine editor was sent to jail for criticizing the government action towards a specific incident, which is also one of the first in Kuwait’s history.

    But I don’t consider wikipedia authorative on the subject. If you know first hand that free speech is tolerated, I will take your word over wikipedia.

    gary

  6. #6 Esra'a - August 21st, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    Wikipedia has its many imperfections and exaggerations.

    Look, is freedom of speech restricted? Sure it is, but we should never be compared to countries such as Iran and Egypt. We have our risks, but many of our most controversial bloggers are walking freely today. Some harassed, some threatened, but they are nonetheless free. Their blogs are accessible. Some, myself included, even contribute these ideas to our local newspapers. I wouldn’t say it’s entirely free, we do face censorship, but it’s not half as bad as you seem to think. The budget manager of this site, who is from Kuwait, gets away with shitload of stuff. And again, that’s why everyone was completely surprised and outraged at the blogger arrest.

  7. #7 gary - August 21st, 2007 at 8:46 pm

    I wouldn’t say it’s entirely free, we do face censorship, but it’s not half as bad as you seem to think.

    Honestly I don’t really have an opinion. That’s why I appreciate this blog so much…I’m learning from people like you know really know. Having a better understanding of the world is an essential prerequisite to changing it (United Democratic Nations) as I’m sure you would agree.

    gary

  8. #8 Omid T (Iran/USA) - August 21st, 2007 at 11:12 pm

    This is going to sound weird but Gary what is more scary?

    Knowing your being watched or not knowing…

    This is just spooky See here how the Pentagon kept a data base on Quakers and other peaceful movements.

    Pentagon secret database

  9. #9 gary - August 22nd, 2007 at 5:32 am

    Omid, I don’t understand your point. If you’re saying that the US has abused human rights, I fully agree. As a US citizen I’m doing what I can to improve my country.

    gary

  10. #10 Fariborz (Iran) - August 22nd, 2007 at 5:37 am

    In Iran it’s terrible. Torture and getting long - jail sentences is usual. Bloggers make sure nobody knows their real identity but they are not aware of that IRI government is trying to have online spying system on people through Internet gateways (its limited and government controlling them). So nobody in near future can get away!

  11. #11 gary - August 22nd, 2007 at 6:32 am

    Fanborz,

    In the US our government allows Google to cooperate with international censorship, China being the most popular example. This is a terrible failing of the US government (and US citizens since we vote). I’m afraid history will judge the US very harshly for this.

    gary

  12. #12 links for 2007-08-23 « no snow here - August 22nd, 2007 at 11:22 pm

    [...] Mideast Youth - Thinking Ahead » Blog Archive » More discriminative and racist behavior against In… “These two videos reveal what Indian migrant workers and expats within the Middle East, particularly the Gulf, have to put up with” (migrant workers and expats harrassed by kuwaiti police) (tags: stateviolence immigration kuwait desi) [...]

  13. #13 Fariborz (Iran) - August 23rd, 2007 at 2:05 am

    gary:

    As I know, google haven’t cooperated so far!
    you’re right about China. IRI actually put their steps in chinese model of internet censorship.

  14. #14 Dawoud (Bahrain/Japan) - October 20th, 2007 at 1:12 pm

    Yep… I expected such acts by Kuwaitis. But you know what Kuwaitis think about us in Ba7rain… they call us the Hindi of the Gulf. At least in Ba7rain, a Hindi, Bengali, Paki and others do stand a better chance at justice, but I am not painting a rosy picture, for there is a lot more work to do. A lot of the crimes against these laborers are committed by members of their own groups, and I have seen Hindi beat down another for failure to do something.

    Yeah, Wikipedia is only as accurate as the person who writes it. Don’t depend on Wikipedia. The best way to gather info is to come out and put yourself in the environment.

  15. #15 Gary (Guest author) - October 20th, 2007 at 8:18 pm

    Yeah, Wikipedia is only as accurate as the person who writes it. Don’t depend on Wikipedia. The best way to gather info is to come out and put yourself in the environment.

    Absolutely agree. The ugly side of wikipedia not always evident to readers is especially evident if you’ve ever tried to post to it. You find that on certain subjects there are editors with final editing authority who are only there because they enjoy the power trip. Sometimes they aren’t even that interested or knowledgable on the subject. There’s also a problem with commercial interest sneaking in. Bottom line is that Wikipedia is a good starting point for research but not the final word.

    Not being in the Middle East myself, I rely heavily on what you and the other members tell me. I love the internet.

    gary

  16. #16 Hsn - December 10th, 2007 at 4:47 pm

    What happened to the romans when they tormented there slaves above a certain extent, they were eventually retaliated. Kuwaitis constitute 15 % of the population, the rest of the population is EXPATRIATES lower class people in their eyes. May Allah destroy people of Arrogance KIBR

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