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South Asia bachelors facing discrimination in wealthy Gulf states

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Free Headline Alerts

ABU DHABI — The Persian Gulf states have instituted measures that restrict the movement of Asian laborers.

Officials and human rights activists said most of the six Gulf states have been establishing zones that ban Asian workers. They said Gulf Arab governments do not want laborers from Bangladesh, Pakistan and other southern Asian countries to mingle with Arabs.

In Bahrain, the largest parliamentary bloc announced a campaign to outlaw Asian and other non-married laborers from living in residential areas. Instead, the Al Wefaq bloc called for the resettlement of the laborers to industrial zones.

"The issue of expatriate bachelors living within Bahraini family neighborhoods is critical because of its social and behavioral implications, and addressing it will figure high on our agenda for the forthcoming parliamentary term," Al A'ali, the Shi'ite parliamentarian, said.

"We have received numerous complaints from Bahraini nationals about the presence of foreigners who do not respect local traditions and values, and we need to genuinely address the issue," Bahraini parliamentarian Abdullah Al A'ali said.

The issue was highlighted during the Id Al Fitr festival, which marked the end of the Islamic fast month of Ramadan. In September 2008, human rights activists reported police attacks on Asian expatriates who sought entry to malls or other public areas.

In Doha, Qatari police whipped and kicked Asian laborers to keep them from walking down a main thoroughfare. Officials said the thoroughfare had been reserved for Qatari families.

"We employ whips because they do not understand," a Qatari officer said.

Kuwait and Qatar have already constructed communities restricted to Asian and other laborers. Both GCC countries were said to severely restrict the movement of unmarried Asian expatriates.

"We will also look at the legislation in neighboring countries and at the practical measures they took to tackle the issue," Al A'ali said.

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