Saudi Arabia has deported several number of non-resident Indians (NRI) living in the Gulf state for protesting against a highly controversial anti-Muslim law introduced by the far-right Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Inspired by Shaheen Bagh Protests in India last year, where a group of mainly Muslim women organised a sit-in to deonstrate against the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a number of Indians living in Jeddah are said to have shown their solidarity by holding placards against the proposed registration bill, said media reports.
The protest landed the NRIs in trouble. It’s reported that they were arrested for violating rules that prohibit any kind of assembly and protest and repatriated back to India.
Gulf countries have zero tolerance towards any kind of protest, demonstration, or gatherings. But the protesters, some of whom were young, are said to have been unaware of this basic rule. Many also got into trouble for posting support on social media.
Notably several gulf nations like Saudi Arab ,UAE and Bahrainb have honoured PM Modi with their highest civilian awards.