Saudis Sentence Workers To Being Flogged And Jailed For Protests Over Unpaid Wages

Saudi Arabia has made flogging a virtual signature of the Kingdom. Flogging women for using bad language. Flogging bloggers. Even flogging tourists. The Kingdom could change its slogan to “Saudi Arabia: Come for the Basbousa, Stay for the beatings.” Now, the Kingdom is reportedly flogging dozens of foreign workers who protested the fact that they have not been paid. The Saudis have a long history of refusing to pay bills from hotels to maids to construction workers. The company involved in many of these protests is the Binladin Group . . . yes, the family business of that infamous Bin Laden.

There are reports of 49 workers who protested the failure to pay them. Some of the protests have included the burning of company buses last May. They are sentenced to four months in jail and 300 lashes for destroying property and inciting arrest.

The construction workers have been simply denied pay due to the decline in oil revenues . . . after all, while the Saudi Royal family continues to spend wildly, workers can hardly be expected to received a barely living wage. The workers were employed by Binladin Group and another firm Saudi Oger. Tens of thousands of workers have reportedly been left destitute. However, many will now have a good flogging to take their minds off their wages.