Filipina Nurse faces jail time and whipping by religious police

Published

Nurses from the Philippines need to be aware of the draconian rules for women in Saudi Arabia and other middle east countries..............

"Unrelated men and women caught dining at a Saudi restaurant would normally be sentenced to four months in jail and 100 lashes. The same punishment applies to a man and a woman caught in a state of seclusion (khulwa)."

Saudi religious police arrest Filipina nurse, male colleague

Arab News

First Posted 17:25:00 05/01/2008

RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia's religious police have arrested a Filipina nurse for sitting in a restaurant with a male colleague, a Philippine diplomat said.

Abigail Valdez, a nurse who works at the Riyadh Military Hospital, is being held at Al-Malaz Prison on charges of "immorality," Philippine Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor told Arab News.

Villamor said the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh was trying to gain access to Valdez, who was arrested by members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice on Monday evening for being with an unrelated man, a taboo in the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom.

But Vice Consul Gerardo P. Abiog, who is in charge of the embassy's Assistance to Nationals Section, said Filipino embassy officials who went to see Valdez were denied access by Saudi authorities.

"She would be released if the hospital (where she works) intervenes. She's still in jail," said Abiog, adding that prison authorities said they needed the approval of senior authorities.

Full Story: Saudi religious police arrest Filipina nurse, male colleague

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Specializes in Oncology, Medical.

That news serves as a reminder for those staying and working in Middle East and for those who are aspiring to work there. Saudi is very conservative and strict with their own rules. Once you are there, you are expected to respect all their rules and culture. This also applies to those Filipina domestic helpers who are not prepared in going there and now blaming the government for not helping them. Breaking the rules in Saudi always means imprisonment no matter how grave your offenses.

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Specializes in Med-Surg,OPD ER,School/Clinic,Teaching.

This is one of the major reasons why Filipino nurses are reluctant in applying to the Middle east.

There are many jobs available for nurses in the middle east but only few have the courage to go to such countries.

Even the so-called "open cities" are not so open.

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This should be a reminder for those who are working or is planning to work in Saudi Arabia, esp. the ladies. You should really take seriously what is being discuss in the pre-departure orientation seminar. Do not ever forget that you are foreigners (meaning not saudi citizens) even when you have been working in saudi for years now or speak the language fluently.

Thanks for posting this Hoss :up:

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the Middle East is the only region in the world where I would not even visit for free.....

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omg! this is a bit scary... cultural differences really sucks at times but nurses should really be aware and well oriented to the culture they are applying to... i hope she will be release soon...

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I hope she'll be pardoned too but just a warning to y'all nurses that's planning to work outside the country is to research and learn the country your going to. let's pray for her sake guys!

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Laws are laws, and if they are broken in the other country, then there is much that one can be in trouble for. Even if it is done in your country, or mine, does not mean that it is done in the other countries.

If you are considering going to any other country, you would be a guest there and subject to their laws.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

wherever country you want to go, a person should know it by heart the laws, norms, rules, culture where his going. We are not on our own country and what is acceptable to us may not be acceptable to them and vise versa. And I bet agencies and other organization undergo a seminar for culture and work orientation before sending people to a foreign country. Now, they did their part, you do yours. If you fail to follow it, now its already your fault.

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Middle East is not known for giving foreign's a break, in fact they want to send a message. Recently a teacher was put in jail and was going to be whipped because a child called a teddy bear Mohammed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2007/11/071126_sudan.shtml

My sister worked for the UN many years in the middle east. She had months of training before moving. Many rules about what to wear, where woman can go, when you can drive, who you can hire as a driver if you can't drive, etc.

I would be scared to go to the middle east without someone knowledgible and have clout to bail you out if you get in trouble.

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Specializes in ER, Psych, Telephone Triage.

Why work in a country with such ridgid and fanatical laws? A place where any thing that you usually do in life can get you arrested?

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Specializes in Med-Surg,OPD ER,School/Clinic,Teaching.

To add insult to injury:

http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item-1239/Filipino-Nurses-Bound-To-Saudi-Arabia-To-Take-Prometric-Exam.html

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