Woman from Hyderabad sold to sponsor in Saudi Arabia for Rs 3 lakh, faces torture: Sushma Swaraj assures help

A 39-year-old woman from Hyderabad, who was sold to a sponsor (kafeel) in Saudi Arabia and is now, reportedly, facing mental and physical harassment. Her situation has caught the attention of Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. She said on Monday said that the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has been directed to rescue and repatriate the woman to India at the earliest. Reacting to a news report, Swaraj tweeted, “I saw this news item and asked for a report from @IndianEmbRiyadh which has been received. I have asked Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to rescue and repatriate her to India at the earliest. I have asked ProtectorGenGOI to proceed against the agent who sent her to Saudi Arabia. (sic).”

According to The Times of India, Salma Begum was sent to Saudi Arabia by two agents — Akram and Shafi — from the same locality in Hyderabad on 21 January, 2017 on a housemaid visa. Salma’s daughter Sameena told The Times of India that the two agents cheated her mother. Sameena added that her mother wants to return home, but the kafeel, who has allegedly bought her for a hefty sum, is not allowing her to do so. “The torture started when she denied to a contract marriage with her kafeel in Saudi Arabia. She, however, informed me sending a message that she was sold by the agents. Now, the kafeel does not want to send her back,” Sameena was quoted as saying.