480 Nepalis languishing in Saudi jail

KATHMANDU: As many as 480 Nepalis have been jailed in Saudi Arabia on different offenses.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in Riyadh, Nepalis have been arrested for offenses like illegal production and distribution of liquor. “Around 80% of those arrested were involved in the production, distribution, and consumption of liquor,” said Top Narayan Giri, the first secretary at the embassy.

Giri said Nepalis use ‘marcha’, a traditional starter culture brought from Nepal, to prepare liquor from rice, wheat, and dates, among others.

The Saudi Arabian government imposes fines, prison terms, and flogging on people involved in the production and distribution of homemade liquor. As per Saudi law, foreigners arrested for this offense can be handed prison terms of six months to seven years.

According to the Foreign Employment Board Secretariat, Nepalis have also been jailed in Kuwait for the same offense.