Saudi diplomat accused of gang rape and torture withdrawn from India

A Saudi diplomat accused of repeatedly raping and torturing two maids working at his home has been withdrawn from India. Majed Hassan Ashoor was called home after two Nepali women were rescued from his New Delhi apartment last week. Ashoor was protected under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which grants diplomats immunity from arrest, criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits when they are posted overseas. But his withdrawal ends an embarrassment for India, which depends on Saudi Arabia for much of its oil but wants to safeguard its relations with neighbour Nepal, where China’s is growing in influence.

We thought we would die there. The apartment was on the 10th floor, there was no way we could run. We were abused every day.

One of the alleged victims

The women, aged 30 and 50, were rescued after a tip-off from a human trafficking group and the Nepalese embassy. They told police they were gang raped, assaulted and denied water and food while being captive for several months. On one occasion, they said they were raped by eight men. Both women came from remote rural parts of Nepal and were sent to Saudi Arabia as domestic servants by human traffickers before returning to New Delhi with their employer. The Saudi embassy previously claimed the allegations were false.

It depends on Saudi Government’s decision. I hope the government will definitely think about delivering justice, if the case is established

Nepal Ambassador Deep Upadhyay

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