RIYADH — The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has asked the General Directorate of Passports to question an officer who was apparently recorded beating visitors with his belt, Al-Yaum newspaper reported Tuesday. The officer was videoed in Jeddah's fingerprinting center, beating expatriates who had come to have their fingerprints taken. The NSHR called for action against the officer and his name published in the media. An NSHR source called on those who was attacked in the video to visit any of the society's branches. The organization said it would represent the victims in taking legal action against the alleged offender. This is a clear violation of human rights, the source said. He added that the NSHR has monitored the huge crowds in passports offices, which have not responded by increasing the number of employees or increasing their working hours. He said the NSHR is calling on the Passport Department to extend its working hours and take necessary measures to ensure all expatriates working illegally can benefit from the grace period to rectify their status. Mohammad Taj, who videoed the incident, said he was at the center to fingerprint his housemaid and noticed some visitors were being treated badly. He recorded the incident so that it would reach the authorities to take necessary action. Taj said he was not harassed, but believed he had not committed a mistake by recording the officer's behavior.
