Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

Thanks...

VS

[trapezius]

On a related note...

http://www.arabnews.com/news/525696

(Women's visits to hospitals without male guardians banned)

[veiledsentiments]

[nomad soul]

Somehow this made me think of the 1991 movie, Thelma and Louise. The Saudi version is called Tahani wa Lamees.

Two expat women caught driving stolen car
By Khaled Al-Blahidi, Okaz/Saudi Gazette | July 26, 2014
Source: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140727212840

AL-KHOBAR – Security officers in the Eastern Province have arrested two young expatriate women who allegedly stole a car from Al-Khobar and drove off.

The car was parked in Al-Aqrabiah district with its engine running. The Arab women were apprehended in the Abqaiq governorate late Friday night, said Eastern Province Police spokesman Col. Ziyad Al-Reqaiti. He said a Saudi called the operations room saying his car was stolen when he went to a restaurant to pick up some food.

Police immediately circulated a description of the vehicle. A patrol team spotted it in Abqaiq with only two women inside, apparently one of them driving. The two women were arrested and handed over to Al-Thuqbah police station.

The case has been referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.

(End of article)

[johnslat]

"A patrol team spotted it in Abqaiq with only two women inside, apparently one of them driving."

"Apparently?" Was the car moving or parked? If it was moving, the "apparently" is silly; if it was parked, no one was driving.

Regards,
John

[nomad soul]

The car was probably moving. I suspect the shurta expected to catch a guy behind the wheel and couldn't believe their eyes when they discovered the alleged car thieves were two young women and that one could actually drive. Something like that.

Ironically, if the thieves had been males, they would have been charged with just stealing the car. However, these young women likely face two charges: theft and a DWW (driving while a woman).

[The Fifth Column]

[nomad soul]

"Dear?" Seriously? What's up with all the sexist nonsense lately?

Anyway, you're probably being facetious, but sure, Saudi Arabia's jails and prisons aren't just for poor, wayward expats.

[SheikMilkShake]

If you were an expat from any country, it would be extremely hard to press charges against a Saudi person. An experience with 3 colleagues of mine say that all.
1. When a Canadian reported the theft of his iPhone ( it was stolen at work place so it could have been one of the Saudi students) ( that was like 2-3 years back when iPhone first entered Saudi market, the price may have been the same as today's but people were cherishing their iPones those days.), the manger and other Saudi and Arab colleagues laughed his complaint off, and didn't take his grief seriously. He was new in the country and he didn't know how to proceed, as all of us didn't have any experience of thefts, etc. 2. Second time was when an American woman filed a police report for sexual assault, the police took the complaint but it was impossible to bring the culprit to the police station and her managers were pressuring her to withdraw the complaint for her own good, and finally she agreed to accept the apology from one female manager ( who didn't assault her) on behalf of the male culprit. Her Saudi BF was helping her at the police station but her employer was not helpful at all.
3. When another American guy made a complaint at the police station for theft as someone entered his apt and stole his valuables incl passport, and he knew who it was, his translator screwed him up. The translator being an arab-speaking national from a neighboring non-GCC country, instead of telling the police what the American was saying, he made everything music to the ears of Saudis and was being double-faced. ( American: I am not happy about this theft at all. Trnslt: He said he is happy working in Saudi Arabia. etc.) Finally, under the manipulation of the translator who was paid by the American, the translator said to the American that it would take years to solve the case and urged him to withdraw the complaint. But, the translator said to Police that " American wants to continue working in KSA and he needs a job so he would withdraw the complaint". Another Arabic speaker from UK was with the American but he was not allowed to speak directly to the police. I was not with them ( don't speak Arabic) but it was difficult for people to communicate due to langue barrier and also Arab translators would not say what you want to say, they would say what it is good for Saudis' ears to hear. Most Arab nationals cannot afford to lose jobs in KSA so they would be extremely nice and kowtow to Saudis. Some people might have had better experiences with crimes and outcomes of the complaints in KSA, I am just sharing what I have heard.

[nomad soul]

However:

Scenario #1: "When a Canadian reported the theft of his iPhone ( it was stolen at work place so it could have been one of the Saudi students)..." Or the culprit could have been one of his expat colleagues or a staff member. There was no evidence as to who took the device.

Scenario #2: "Her Saudi BF was helping her at the police station but her employer was not helpful at all." Frankly, the fact that she had a Saudi boyfriend hurt her reputation and thus, her credibility (and could have gotten her deported). Additionally, she was very likely complicit in the events that led to the alleged assault. Those are details not spelled out in your account of the situation. But seriously, what did she expect the employer to do? Sexual assault is a subject many societies prefer to not speak or hear about. Moreover, how is it that you worked directly with women in KSA? (You stated at the beginning of your post that these experiences were of three colleagues of yours.)

Scenario #3: "...instead of telling the police what the American was saying, he made everything music to the ears of Saudis and was being double-faced." It's best to choose a trusted friend to translate in these types of situations.

[rollingk]

[nomad soul]

[plumpy nut]

[SirAristede]

[CANDLES]

Insanity rules!