Saudi Arabia: Rape, Human-Trafficking + Slavery

"Roughly five and a half million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. Priorities for government spending in the short term include additional funds for education and for the water and sewage systems. Economic reforms proceed cautiously because of deep-rooted political and social conservatism.

Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, an indeterminate number of whom are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude. There were reports that victims are subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement. Domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are confined to the house in which they work, unable to seek help.

Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors. There were also reports that some Nigerian women were trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation. "
- U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2006 [full country report]

+ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005
+ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2004
+ An Indonesian woman who was kept as a virtual slave and who was also a key witness against a Saudi Arabian couple, Homaidan Al-Turki and his wife, Sarah Khonaizan, is missing. A modern day slavery case where the victim was forced cook clean and was sexually abused.

+ Saudis Import Slaves to America +++ Saudi sheik: 'Slavery is a part of Islam'
+ Guest Worker May Lose Digits, Toes After Being Tied Up in Bathroom for a Month
+ Forced-Labor Charges For Saudi Prince's Wife

+ Slavery still exists in a host of majority-Muslim countries
+ 100,000 black chattel slaves in Saudi Arabia
+ American women who have married Saudi nationals are held captive in Saudi Arabia
+ Is it marriage or is it rape in Saudi Arabia?

+ Giuliani rejects $10 million from Saudi prince
+ Saudi prince moved roughly two tons of cocaine from Colombia to an airport outside Paris, using his diplomatic status +++ Saudi Prince Accused of Drug Smuggling Avoids Prosecution


An A-10 Thunderbolt II, like this one, is among the various U.S. Central Command Air Forces air assets available for providing close-air support for International Security Assistance Force troops in contact with enemy forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The A-10 is specially designed for close air support of ground forces and can be used against all ground targets.


Iraq: A family comes out to greet Spc. David Shrauger, who is providing security for his platoon during a cordon and search operation