RIYADH — Expatriates are responsible for the majority of crimes committed in the Kingdom, according to security experts. Studies have proven beyond doubt that the majority of the crimes in the Kingdom are being committed by expatriates, one security expert told Al-Riyadh newspaper on Wednesday. Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Tamimi, a Shoura Council member, added: "The crimes of drug trafficking, theft, robbery, forgery, prostitution and alcohol brewery are all new to our society. “They have been committed by expatriates, particularly those living illegally among us.” Tamimi said it was not easy to monitor expatriates for criminal activity because they live together in certain districts and are very protective of each other. "The threats posed to our society by these illegal foreigners will tremendously increase if our security forces do not take action," he said. Tamimi said apart from the economic, social and ethical threats to Saudi society, expatriates are also depriving a large number of Saudis of employment opportunities. He said: “Many expatriates do not shy away from physically and verbally abusing citizens. “Some of them have gone too far in this behavior. “If they are not checked and properly punished the foreigners will continue to commit crimes.” Tamimi believed that measures to mitigate any dangers posed by expatriates should start before they come to the Kingdom. "The Saudi diplomatic missions abroad should initiate a fingerprinting system linked to the Interior Ministry before they give expatriates entry visas," he said. He also called for a thorough medical checkup to be delivered to all expatriates before recruiting them to work in the Kingdom. He said: “The expatriate men and women should also be checked at recognized psychiatric hospitals. “The recruitment companies should open training institutes under the supervision of Saudi embassies to train and qualify them.” Tamimi said foreign recruits should be educated above intermediate school standard and their qualifications should be thoroughly verified. He said expatriates should be provided with books and pamphlets on the Kingdom's laws and regulations. Tamimi asked citizens to cooperate with security forces in tackling the criminal activities of expatriates. He said: "The district mayors have a big responsibility in closely watching expatriates. “The mosque imams should enlighten expatriates about the importance of respecting the country's norms, values and traditions.” Tamimi asked for campaigns against illegal expatriates to continue and said citizens who inform security forces about illegal foreigners should be rewarded morally and materially. Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Bin Ouwaid Al-Otaibi, another Shoura Council member, said it was difficult to organize the entry of the expatriates to the Kingdom because of the Two Holy Mosques. "You cannot prevent people from coming to Islam's most sacred shrines," he said. He also said the Kingdom has long borders with some countries that are difficult to control. "According to an international survey, Saudi Arabia is the third most attractive country in the world for foreign job seekers," he said. Otaibi said most foreign workers come to the Kingdom without receiving proper rehabilitation or training. He said: “Some of them arrive with physical, mental or psychological diseases. “Many of them are not properly educated, if not completely illiterate.” Otaibi noted that some Saudis do not treat expatriates nicely, especially housemaids, creating a conflict. He said: "When humiliated or badly treated, the foreigners will react negatively. “They may escape from their sponsors or resort to theft and crime to compensate for their usurped rights.” Otaibi asked the ministries of labor and commerce, the Saudi embassies and the recruitment offices to raise awareness among foreign recruits about the laws, rules, regulations and lifestyle in the Kingdom. He accused some citizens of encouraging illegal expatriates to continue committing crimes by covering for them. "The citizens are the first line of defense, so they should reveal the violating foreigners," he said. Otaibi also asked the citizens to be disciplined and law-abiding and act as role models for expatriates who may be tempted to commit crimes.
