A British employment court ruled that Saudi diplomat Khalid Basfar cannot claim immunity from trafficking a Filipina domestic helper into Britain.
The judge said full diplomatic immunity, or protection from criminal charges and civil cases, does not apply in slavery cases because modern slavery is a “commercial activity” exempted from diplomatic immunity, Reuters reported.
The ruling serves as a green light to litigate the diplomat over allegations that he treated the Filipina as a domestic slave.
Basfar brought the Filipina to Britain to work as a domestic helper in his home. He promised to pay the Filipina a minimum wage and a day off every week.
But the Filipina said Basfar withheld her wages, did not allow her to leave the house, and made her work from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day. She even had to wear a wear a buzzer, so she could easily be called to work anytime. The Filipina also lamented that she was verbally abused.
“We would hope it will encourage victims that they do have rights that can be enforced against diplomats who are ill-treating them and exploiting their position. We hope it acts as a deterrent for such employers,” said Nusrat Uddin, a solicitor at Wilson Solicitors LLP involved in the case, was quoted in the report as saying.
The Saudi embassy in London has not yet commented on the allegations.
A British employment court also heard a domestic slavery involving a Saudi diplomat last year. The Supreme Court ruled the diplomat no longer had full diplomatic immunity as he left Britain in 2014.
Source: GMA
