• Home

Saudi diplomat accused of raping 2 women leaves India

New Delhi - Although a case was registered against the diplomat, police could not act against him because of diplomatic immunity.

A Saudi Arabian diplomat accused of raping and abusing two Nepalese maids has left India under cover of diplomatic immunity, while Nepal on Thursday called for justice for the women.
India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup identified the diplomat as Majed Hassan Ashoor, the first secretary at the Saudi Embassy in New Delhi. The statement late Wednesday said Ashoor, "who is allegedly accused of abusing two Nepali maids, has left India."
It gave no details on how the diplomat left the country, but said "the first secretary, being a diplomat, is governed by the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations."
Read: Saudi Arabia advertises for swordsmen as execution rate soars
The two Nepalese, working as maids in the diplomat's luxury apartment, have accused him of illegally confining and raping them during the past few months.
Police removed the women from the apartment last week after receiving a complaint from a non-governmental organization. They have since returned to Nepal.
Although a case was registered against the diplomat, police could not act against him because of diplomatic immunity.
Under the Vienna Convention, diplomats cannot be arrested or face criminal prosecution in the country where they are posted.
Read: Women sold as sex slaves at Daesh market
The Saudi Embassy has denied the allegations against the diplomat, and refused to let police question him.
The Nepalese ambassador in New Delhi, Deep Upadhyay, told reporters that the case should be pursued even if the diplomat had left the country. "The victims must get justice," he said Thursday.
Police in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, said they were investigating the case and had arrested several people involved in the trafficking of poor women to work as maids in India and other countries.