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Malayali, Yemeni Workers Shot Dead by Saudi Youth

Is the Anti-Indian Feeling Growing in the Gulf?

Riyadh: January 19, 2002: A Saudi youth has shot dead a Malayali worker Muhammad ( 48 years), from Perinthalmanna, Kerala who has been working in a taxi company owned by an Arab. Even though the angry Arab youth tried to kill Muhammad's relative, Hasainar, he escaped by hiding behind a car.
The Saudi Police have already arrested Thursday night the culprit, a Saudi youth who fled after shooting to death the Malayali worker and another Yemeni working in the same taxi company office in north Jeddah on Wednesday. The Malayali worker and his colleague were killed when they prevented him from entering the office of their Saudi boss, whom the culprit wanted to kill for appointing two expatriates in his company.

It was only a few months back that a group of Saudi Youths killed a Malayali worker in a petrol pump for silly reasons. These incidents show the growing anti-Indian feeling among the Arab youth. According to Arab News, the alleged murderer tried to storm into the taxi company's office belonging to the Saudi businessman for killing him or one of his sons, following an argument with company workers. The businessman was not present in the office and his son escaped injury by hiding under a table. The dispute between the murderer and the businessman erupted when the latter appointed two expatriate workers to the taxi company, located close to the Falak roundabout in Jeddah, said the leading English daily from Saudi Arabia.

The incident is an indication of the growing resentment among the Arab youth against the increasing level of unemployment and frustration. The Arab business community in general prefer to appoint cheap expatriate workers from India and other Asian countries rather than employing national citizens, who have to be trained and paid more salary and benefits. The Saudi youth who killed the Malayali worker is said to be a drug addict, who went to Afghanistan to fight the Jihad, and returned to the Kingdom due to mental illness.

When the expatriate workers are leading decent life in the Gulf region, the condition of ordinary citizens is becoming pathetic. Naturally, the educated, unemployed Arab youth won't like an Indian (Hindi) driving a costly car or living in a posh villa. Incidents of stone throwing, spitting and other forms of attack on Indians and Indian families is a common thing in the Gulf region. In the more conservative Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, such attacks are said to be part of an Indian family's life. In order to prevent such attacks, many Malayali families keep a low profile life. In some countries, small criminal gangs of Arab youths roam around, hiding iron bar and knives in their long dish dash (long white dress), rob and attack expatriates who come alone at odd times. In one incident a criminal gang tried to chop off one hand of small Malayali shop owner in one of the Gulf countries.

Saudi Government is trying to find employment opportunities for the Saudi Youth by replacing large number of expatriate workers. But since the economy is not growing as per expectations, more jobs are not created. The business community, especially the small and medium sized businessmen who employ Asian workers, are hostile to Saudiazation efforts.

In recent times following the Afghanistan crisis, anti Indian feeling has become stronger due to the Indian Government's support to the American policy. Many incidents of stone throwing at Indian Christian churches are not reported in the mainstream media. Angry Arab youths singled out parked cars and vehicles which displayed Christian Symbols like the Cross, Pictures of the Jesus or other Holy Sings. Many Christian Malayali owned and driven cars normally carry such symbols. However, the Governments in the Gulf countries provide full protection to such places of worship.

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