By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The remaining Filipino workers in the custody of Saudi authorities were released Saturday after the Philippine embassy negotiated their release.  Twelve Filipino workers were among the one hundred foreign workers arrested by religious police for participating in a forbidden religious activity earlier this month.  The workers allegedly held a Christian mass in a place of special occasions in the Nadeem District of Saudi Arabia.  Under Saudi law, conducting religious activities of faiths other than Islam is strictly prohibited in the country. 

The workers were released to their host employers but have been unable to return home as an investigation into their religious activities is still being conducted.  In Saudi Arabia, only the employers of foreign workers may be the guarantors of accused aliens since it is the employers who sponsor work permits for foreign employees.  The Philippine embassy reported that it could not take exception to the temporary release of Filipino workers however, it would continue to closely monitor the progress of the investigation against them. 

John Leonard Monterona, the regional coordinator of Migrante Middle East Chapter, stated that foreign workers “must be cautious and must have a ‘sense of extra care’ especially in Saudi Arabia which has been known to be strictly implementing its cultural laws.”  

Relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia have been tense in recent weeks after reports uncovered that at least four Filipino nurses working in Saudi Arabia may have been raped and beaten.   Although the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has commented that these reporters are unsubstantiated, foreign watchdog groups have been urging the government to initiate its own comprehensive investigation into the alleged incidents.

The continued investigation of Filipino workers however, is evidence of the country’s unwillingness to challenge the policies of the Saudi government and create more antipathy between the nations.  As the Philippine government has little to leverage against its Middle Eastern counterpart, it is likely that it will take a non-obtrusive approach towards the prosecution of its workers as it hopes to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia.

For more information, please see:

ABS-CBN News – Last of Jailed OFW in Illegal Religious Event in Saudi Released – 9 Oct. 2010

GMA News – DFA: All OFWs Jailed for Worship in KSA Released – 9 Oct. 2010

Inquirer.net – DFA: Reports of Rape of 4 Filipinas Unverified – 9 Oct. 2010

Republic of the Philippine, Department of Foreign Affairs – Remaining OFW Jailed for Religious Worship in Riyadh Released – 9 Oct. 2010

ABS-CBN News –14 OFWs Nabbed for Joining Religious Service – 6 Oct. 2010