JEDDAH — Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, received a delegation of Indian scholars from the southern state of Kerala at his palace Friday. The delegation was headed by renowned scholar and general secretary of the All India Muslim Scholars Association Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar. They mainly spoke on the issues concerning the expatriate community such as the effects of Nitaqat implementation and “Huroob.” The delegation's visit attains great significance at a time when a high level Indian government delegation is scheduled to visit the Kingdom later this month to meet Saudi leaders in order to discuss issues related to Indian expatriates who may be affected by the Nitaqat Saudization drive. Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Aboobacker Musliyar said that the delegation thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for the three-month reprieve given to foreigners to correct their legal status. “We are thankful to the Saudi government for its positive gesture to the expatriate community by giving such a grace period so as to enable them to rectify their status and continue contributing to the Kingdom's development as legal residents,” he said while requesting the government to extend the deadline for a further period. Aboobacker Musliyar said the Emir promised the delegation that their genuine demands would be considered. “We briefed the Emir on the practical difficulties faced by those who ran away or missing from sponsors (Huroob) for their return.” “Victims of huroob would be allowed to return home without facing any penal action, besides removing all legal hurdles for their coming back either to the Kingdom or other Gulf states,” he said. “Prince Khaled explained us the government's determination to vigorously pursue the Nitaqat Saudization program. We appreciate the government's initiative to legalize the status of some eight million foreigners living the Kingdom,” he said. “Apart from Nitaqat and Huroob, we discussed issues concerning the Muslim minorities in India. We also underscored the need for further cementing the historic bilateral relations between the two countries,” he said. Aboobacker Musliyar, who is also the founder and vice chancellor of Jamia Markazu Ssaquafathi Ssunniyya Calicut, was accompanied by Abdul Hakeem Azhari, Hussein Saqafi Chullikkode and Sheikh Muhammad Rafeeq, chairman of Gammon India Limited.
