The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has criticized sponsors who search their housemaids before allowing them to return home. The practice is to ensure maids haven't stolen any of the families' valuables or items which can be used in sorcery. The families use women to search the housemaids and make them change clothes just before going on holiday. NHSR spokesman Dr. Talha Ghouth said: “What these families do violates the simplest principles of human rights. The action is illegal, especially if it reaches the level of stripping them and hiring people from outside the family to do so.” One of these helpers, Umm Muhammad, said she started doing this when her neighbor asked for help in searching her maid. “Within a few days I became famous in the neighborhood for searching maids and eventually it became my way of earning a living,” she said. Dr Talha said: “Some families hire women for SR150-400 to search the maid before leaving for the airport. This is an illegal action and is punishable by law.” The NHSR is urging sponsors to comply with the law. “There are government bodies already responsible for searching maids such as female passport inspectors at airports. These inspectors will report any valuables they find to security authorities,” Dr. Talha added.
