'There are no Muslims here': Indian businessman subjected to religious discrimination in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: An incident of religious discrimination against an Indian exhibitor at a business exhibition in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh has come to light. The incident has sparked widespread outrage after a video of it went viral on social media.

What was the incident?

The viral video shows a Saudi national arguing with and mocking employees at an Indian company's booth, objecting to the fact that the company did not have any Muslim employees.

UAE-based political analyst Amjad Taha shared the video, calling it blatant racism. He wrote that business is not a mosque attendance register and that there is no place for such faith-based policing in a modern society.

What was the reaction?

Many Indian social media users expressed their anger, raising concerns about the dignity and safety of Indians working in Saudi Arabia. Some urged the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to take up the matter with the Saudi authorities.

Saudi Arabia has strict laws against religious and racial discrimination, although their enforcement is often a subject of international discussion. According to Saudi Arabia's Basic Law of Governance (Article 8), the system of governance is based on justice and equality. The country also has strict guidelines against hate speech and discrimination, especially on digital platforms.

How has Saudi Arabia reacted?

So far, there has been no official statement from the Saudi authorities or the exhibition organizers regarding this particular incident. It is also unclear whether the victim has filed a formal complaint.

Approximately 2.6 to 3 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, making them the largest expatriate community there. Although Saudi Arabia is an Islamic nation, the Indian expatriate community includes a significant number of Hindus, Christians, and people of other faiths.