A distressing video circulating on social media shows a man from Uttar Pradesh alleging that he is being held against his will, prompting the Indian embassy to initiate a search for him. This development coincides with Saudi Arabia’s recent decision to abolish the long-standing Kafala system, which granted employers control over foreign workers’ visas and drew criticism for resembling modern-day slavery.
In the video shared by a lawyer based in Delhi, the man, speaking in Bhojpuri, claims that his sponsor is withholding his passport and makes a plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance. The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified by India Today.
The lawyer tweeted alongside the video, urging External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to intervene as the man, hailing from Handia, Pratappur in Prayagraj, remains stranded in Saudi Arabia. The visibly distressed man, with a camel visible in the background, emotionally recounts his situation, stating that his passport is held by someone named Kapil who is threatening him.
Appealing for help, the man asks for the video to be widely shared to catch the attention of PM Modi and expresses a heartfelt desire to reunite with his mother. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia responded to the video’s circulation by stating their efforts to locate the individual, highlighting the lack of specific details in the video hindering further action.
Contrary to the man’s claims, the Saudi security department dismissed them as baseless, attributing the video’s publication to a ploy to increase viewership. The recent abolition of the Kafala system in Saudi Arabia marks a significant shift in migrant workers’ rights, particularly benefiting individuals from India and other Southeast Asian nations who were previously subjected to employer control and rights violations under the system.