Forget human rights. Let’s talk about human dignity in Saudi Arabia.

Forget human rights. Let’s talk about human dignity in Saudi Arabia.

For one moment, put aside the sensationalist cases and stories that command the attention of Amnesty International #amnestyinternational and Human Rights Watch #hrw and the 'follows' and 'hashtags' given to the ban on women driving. Momentarily, ignore the exploitation of domestic and labour-class workers and the plight of unreported domestic abuse that occupy sociologists’ minds.

Let’s look at the utter disregard for basic human dignity that is witnessed in the everyday life of the foreign worker and even local citizen; occurrences that will never be reported to the authorities (who would dare?) and will not become even a blip on the international media’s radar.

Spare a moment for the imbalanced, subservient, power-hungry, psychological fabric of society that is taken for granted and thus, regretfully, ignored in Saudi Arabia.

Allow me share with you an incident that took place today. You will perhaps think that I am being too sensitive with my reaction to such a trivial matter that did not even affect me personally. However, its moving impact lies in what it represents, especially since it was just that: ‘trivial’.

This afternoon, on the way back from a meeting, while waiting next to a taxi at a traffic light, we were surprised to see a massive Ford F-150 truck bump into this taxi from behind. Perhaps it was an honest mistake but after a few moments it was clear that this small incident would come to represent everything that is wrong with the mentality and the social fabric in this country. Normally, one would apologise to the victim. Not this person who is God’s gift to earth and mankind. Instead, he proceeds to nudge the taxi even harder.

(For those who are not familiar with Saudi Arabia, taxi drivers here are poor and the majority are foreigners whose subsistence relies on the lack of a decent public transport infrastructure - but more on that later.)

The taxi driver and his passengers look at the F-150 in disbelief. They have yet to come to terms with what was happening. The F-150 continues nudging forward until the taxi hits the taxi in front of it. Then comes the realization that this powerless, foreign taxi driver simply cannot protest, complain or even confront his rich, egotistical, powerful abuser (who is aware of this hence his behavior).

The taxi driver will have to absorb the abuse, swear at abuser under his breath and drive off saying to himself that at least he earns $35 a day. And so he did. Neither do any local passers-by care for this simple, negligible incident nor can any foreign observers consider intervening.

Herein lies the insight into the undocumented, uninteresting, unreported but real and frequent occurrences of everyday life in this country. Every day, foreigners pander to the prejudices and whims of their masters, accepting the psychological abuse that is inflicted both verbally and through the hierarchy of citizen-foreigner structure. 

Now, I being Pakistani by birth, lineage, blood, soul and heart but having spent years living in this country, do have some sort of emotional attachment to it. I will not be ungrateful for the home and blessings it has provided me. I would like it to change, improve and live up to its lofty standards of the Kingdom of Humanity and beacon of Islam for both its people and the ‘guest workers’ [labour] that it hosts and have helped build the country over decades past. I would like it to be, in reality, what many middle class, educated Saudis think it will be (for the vast majority of Saudis with whom I work, play and socialize with every day are of the same opinion as I).

Like them, I want to see you, Saudi Arabia, embrace and live by the Islamic principle that was once espoused (now long forgotten) by the Prophet Mohammed when he said: “O people!  Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one.  An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety.” Or, the the words of Ali ibn Abi Talib: "O Malik! The people are either brothers in religion or your equal in creation"

The Kingdom and its people are some of the most generous I have ever known; your unrestricted benevolence is well documented, unprecedented and unappreciated. You are the first ones to help countries in need financially after disasters or economic crises. You provide political and moral support to your Muslim brethren around the world.  You have been blessed with the sacred shrines of Islam and enjoy the admiration and adoration of millions of Muslims around the world. You are blessed with endless natural resources and most importantly peace and security in everyday life.

But why, O Son of Adam, are you so condescending and exploitative of powerless foreigners? Why are you ignorant of the plight of your own citizens to whom civil services are provided with immense frustration and disorganization? Why are you the first to cry foul when the Western man questions your religion, your women and your politics but the last ones to respect, let alone help, a fellow Muslim? Why, O Citizen of the Kingdom of Humanity?

I vented my frustration to a friend, who, for these very reasons left his childhood land, told me to “hang on or move on”. These are brutally honest and wise words. I will probably heed his advice and choose the latter.

But I will not leave this country, nay this world, without having my voice heard first.

In the words of the great Allama Iqbal:

“Ae Tair-e-Lahooti! Uss Rizq Se Mout Achi

Jis Rizq Se Ati Ho Parwaz Mein Kotahi”

“(O Bird, who flies to the Throne of God,

To suffer death is nobler far Than bread that clogs your upward flight)”