Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

American teacher claims she's detained against her will

By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
Published: Apr 17, 2011 22:31 Updated: Apr 18, 2011 11:14


RIYADH: "An American woman who came to Riyadh on a teaching contract has alleged her sponsor detained her in the Kingdom against her will for at least 457 days as of Sunday.

�Today is the 457th day that I�ve been held against my will, 13 days longer than the Iranians held Americans between 1979 through to 1981,� Trina Flowers, a teacher from Dulles, told Arab News on Sunday.

�I arrived in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 22, 2009, to teach English to university students through a private company in a program undertaken on the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah mandated to the Ministry of Higher Education.

�However, almost immediately after my arrival, I realized that the company was in no way capable of dealing with Western people in a humane manner. I wanted to leave Saudi Arabia. Things went from bad to worse.�

She said when she received her visa from the Saudi Embassy in Washington, it stated her employer was King Saud University (KSU).

�When I came to Riyadh, I was sent to Najran University,� she added, pointing out that she had never even been to KSU. She strongly believes her sponsor deliberately deceived her since her arrival.

The saga started when Flowers refused to renew her visit visa after she realized that it was illegal to work in the Kingdom with such papers.

�As soon as I was made aware that none of the teachers would be given proper work visas, I wanted to return to the United States as quickly as possible. Therefore, I refused to renew my visa and told my company that I wanted to leave Saudi Arabia immediately,� she said.

�How can such a company bring teachers on visit visas that are renewed every 90 days to work since it is against the labor regulations? Why did the proper Saudi government authorities do nothing when I went to them to file complaints?�

The company was supposed to fly her out at 6:15 a.m. on Jan. 15, but it failed to provide a driver or escort to finalize the exit procedures.

�They ignored all my attempts to get them to fly me out the following week before my visa expired. I made a number of attempts to give the company the opportunity to redress their crimes and human rights violations. Instead, I was subjected to harassment, threats and even attempts to abduct me in the middle of the night,� Flowers said, adding that she was denied medical care and practically starved to death.

At present, the hotel where the teacher has been staying in Riyadh has asked her to vacate her room since her sponsor has withdrawn tenancy of the room. It has warned her that the power supply to the room will be disconnected if she fails to leave.

�Now I am penniless and homeless,� Flowers said.

�The company lied, threatened and harassed me, left me with no resources whatsoever, and yet they claim it's my fault. I've broken the law and I'm a criminal and they're not responsible?� she said.

She said she feels that all this happened due to a human resources officer�s personal vendetta against her.

�The company owes me both compensatory and punitive damages for their human rights violations and crimes against me,� Flowers said, recalling that three Western women provided her food after she placed an online advertisement to teach English in exchange for food.

Arab News attempted to contact the human resources officer, but there was no response."

Regards,
John

[dutchman]

This was posted the other day, John.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=88633