On the 19 OFWs Arrested in Riyadh

30 October 2018 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) today said authorities in Saudi Arabia have agreed to temporarily release to the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh 19 Filipinos who were arrested during a raid at a Halloween party last Friday.

The information was conveyed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. by Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto.

According to Ambassador Alonto, Chief Prosecutor Khalid Al Hozaimi provided the names of the 19 women who are currently detained at the Al Nisa jail—not 17 as initially reported—and agreed to turn them over to the custody of the Embassy.

Ambassador Alonto said this was made possible because of the strong representations made by the Embassy with Saudi authorities. Ambassador Alonto said authorities may file charges against the Filipinos for violating Shari’a law, which prohibits interaction especially in public among unattached men and women.

The 19 women were among several Saudis and foreign nationals who were arrested while attending a Halloween party at a private compound in Riyadh. END