Madinah newspaper THE scandal involving the disabled at Tabuk Rehabilitation Center is a tragedy. Just 18 months after its inauguration, it became uninhabitable, which necessitated transferring the occupants to another location in Madinah. The corruption pertaining to the building was related to the use of substandard building materials but worse was the prevalent moral corruption in dealing humanely with the disabled during the relocation process to Madinah. We are told they were crammed into SAPTCO buses without seats. Throughout the 10-hour journey, they were wedged on mattresses and were only separated by pillows. There was no air-conditioning or medical personnel on board. Really, there was nothing but flies and foul odors. Officials who had made the arrangement were well aware of what they were doing and tried to hide their misdeeds by keeping the buses away from the media and arranging for the buses to enter the Madinah Rehabilitation Center through the rear entrance. Despite the cruel treatment that these 941 people of varying physical and mental disabilities endured on nine different buses, the undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs, in an interview with Al-Madinah newspaper, tried to justify everything by claiming officials were unable to find reservations on airlines. He even said their journey was comfortable and better than a 12-hour flight to New York City. Football players enjoy flights on private planes and travel in the utmost luxury but why are the disabled, who are also members of society, transported in such a disgraceful and inhumane manner? On behalf of these innocent people, it is necessary to open a wide investigation and uncover the facts and punish those responsible. __
