Morocco denies workers are held in Saudi prison

The Moroccan Embassy in Saudi Arabia has denied reports claiming a number of Moroccan women are being held in a prison in Riyadh.

The embassy said in an official statement that “the Saudi authorities hold the workers in a care centre for domestic workers in Riyadh” asserting that the workers’ claims were inaccurate.

A video was released on social media showing a number of female workers claiming they were held in a prison in Riyadh. The workers claimed that they had suffered physical and psychological damage during their captivity and called on the Moroccan authorities to end their suffering.

The embassy pointed out that there is no agreement between Morocco and Saudi Arabia for domestic labourers to be employed.

The embassy said the workers, who appeared in the video, were detained until a decision is made about their cases.

In cooperation with the Saudi authorities, the embassy has processed 60 cases of female Moroccan workers in Riyadh and repatriated them over the past five months, the statement said, adding that the embassy is currently processing the cases of the domestic workers who appeared in the video.