Help me, begs Australian citizen stuck in Saudi Arabia
Murray Bridge resident Abdullah Balhaddad has been banned from travelling home after becoming involved in a court case overseas.
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A Murray Bridge resident is appealing for help from the Australian government after a court decision left him stuck in Saudi Arabia and unable to return to his family.
Abdullah Balhaddad had purchased a residential unit in Al Khobar, a city on the Persian Gulf, as an investment.
To protect that investment, he installed three security cameras: one at the door, one in a carport, and a third in a higher-up window, facing the street.
But a neighbour took him to court, arguing that the second and third cameras infringed upon her privacy.
The court found in her favour, so Mr Balhaddad agreed to remove the two cameras.
But an inspector allegedly found one was still there, which led a higher court to order enforcement action against him.
On May 4, while he was out of the country, the Dammam Enforcement Court froze his business assets, revoked his work permit, ordered that he be fined 1000 riyals – about $380 – per day until the camera was removed, and banned him from leaving Saudia Arabia.
Mr Balhaddad told Murray Bridge News he had no way of proving he had complied with the court order – it was his word against the complainant’s.
He said he only found out about the travel ban later, when he returned to Saudi Arabia and attempted to come home to Australia.
“They said, ‘You are not allowed to leave,’” he said.
“Nobody told me that – I can’t check the system in overseas.
“Now I am stuck.
“I want to go back to my family, but I can’t go back now.”
His appeals for a reprieve from the Saudi government, including an email to Deputy Enforcement Minister Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Suwaii, were turned down, he said.
Nor had the Australian embassy provided much help.
He urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the federal government to step in.
“This can happen to any other Australian,” he said.
“I don’t think this is the right way to encourage tourism or bring investment to Saudi Arabia.”
DFAT confirms it is aware of the matter
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Murray Bridge News that it had provided consular assistance to an Australian citizen in Saudi Arabia.
A spokesman declined to provide further comment on the specific matter for privacy reasons.
According to DFAT’s consular services charter, the department may provide general advice and support to Australians facing legal issues overseas.
The department cannot give legal advice or intervene in foreign judicial systems, meaning it cannot get Australians out of prison or remove travel bans.
DFAT currently advises Australians to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Saudi Arabia due to the unpredictable security situation there, including threats of international conflict and terrorism.
- More information: www.smartraveller.gov.au.
