Pinoy in Saudi jailed for drawing 'dirty finger' on paper

A Filipino factory worker in Saudi Arabia was sent to jail after allegedly drawing on a piece of paper an image of a "dirty finger" with a caption that is reportedly offensive to Muslims.

In a statement, the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (Brotherhood in the Middle East) said the Filipino, identified only as Willie of Laguna in southern Philippines, has been detained in Riyadh since October 14.

GMA News Online contacted the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to verify the incident but the DFA has yet to reply.

Eric Jocson, chairperson of the Riyadh chapter of Migrante in Saudi Arabia, said Willie was caught by his supervisor with the alleged controversial illustration.

Jocson claimed that Willie and his supervisor had an argument about the Filipino's transfer to another job site.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona on Tuesday said the jailed Filipino told him that his supervisor reported the ‘dirty finger’ illustration to a "Mutawa" or religious police who arrested him.

“It is unfortunate that because of what he had sketched, he was sent to jail and might probably face a case over violation of customary prohibition," Monterona said.

The group intends to consult a local Shariah lawyer if the drawing constitutes an offense of the host government's customary prohibition.

“It is totally wrong to equate that what he had drawn is in reference to Mohamad, the prophet, as we OFWs have a high regard and respect for the Muslim prophet. Blasphemy must be ruled out," Monterona said.

Monterona said they are coordinating with Philippine embassy officials in Riyadh to send a consular team to assist the jailed OFW. - RJMD/VVP, GMA News

The supposed “exit” stamping on passports of Filipinos leaving Saudi Arabia has raised apprehensions among some workers that they may not be allowed to return to their old jobs. Some have theorized this is meant to force companies in Saudi Arabia to instead hire Saudi citizens.

In an advice to vacationing workers, Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago said that “as a precaution, (they) should be in contact with their employers just in case they will have such problems at the airport in Riyadh, or elsewhere in Saudi Arabia.”

“They should report the matter to the embassy so that it could take the appropriate action,” Tago said.

The Riyadh-based OFW group Migrante-Middle East said it had been receiving complaints from a number of OFWs about the “exit” stamp on their passports when they left Saudi Arabia.

The result is that some OFWs in Saudi Arabia have indicated they will postpone their scheduled yearly vacations for fear of not being allowed reentry, according to a Migrante coordinator.

Some OFWs and their recruiters fear the stamping regulation may have something to do with the kingdom’s new labor policy that reportedly limits the number of migrant workers in private sector firms.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the other day the stamping of “exit” on passports of vacationing OFWs was “not possible” because Saudi exit/reentry visas issued by Saudi Arabia’s passport department could not be changed by immigration authorities at the airports.