THE following is the Ethiopian Embassy’s reply to an Arabic daily’s article against Ethiopian domestic workers: The Embassy of the Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia in Kuwait is dismayed by the article published by an Arabic daily newspaper recently, under the title “Ending Ethiopian residence in the country within two years, Criminal investigation suggests not renewing their residence permits”, and subsequently reproduced by others, marking unfounded allegations against innocent and defenseless Ethiopian domestic workers in Kuwait.
The Embassy strongly objects and categorically rejects this very dangerous and unfair piece aimed at demonizing Ethiopian nationals in Kuwait by disseminating a misleading and unacceptable message to the public at large.
The Embassy has no information on the alleged official acts mentioned in the article. The Embassy has full confidence in the decency and righteousness of the people and Government of Kuwait to unequivocally reject such a collective condemnation of all Ethiopian women working in the country. These domestic workers are tirelessly working in Kuwait to earn their living in a way contributing their level best to the country’s development.
They are here in Kuwait with the full knowledge and consent of the host country on the basis of a bilateral Labor Exchange Agreement signed between the two countries. The article also makes erroneous and misleading claims on the beliefs and acts of members of the Ethiopian community, without any tangible evidence, singling out the hard working Ethiopian women.
This is very troubling and painful. Such baseless and irresponsible claims against the entire Ethiopian community should not be allowed under any circumstance. As a matter of principle and practice, criminal cases are properly handled by the competent courts of a country on a case by case individual basis.
The Embassy firmly believes that any law breaker must be accountable for his/ her acts on an individual basis in accordance with due process of law. However, it is unacceptable and deplorable that the article takes four individual and separate cases and makes unwise generalization and collective criminalization singling out Ethiopian nationals.
There is no such strange and perplexing act under any national or international jurisdiction or any religious faith. Ethiopian domestic workers and Ethiopians in general are law abiding, hardworking and peaceful people.
Ethiopia is a great country where believers of all religion, including Muslim and Christian believers, are leaving in harmony and respect for one another with a strong ethical and moral basis. The alleged ‘heinous acts of human sacrifices’ are not known in any Ethiopian culture or religious practices of any faith.
The Embassy, therefore, strongly condemns such defamatory allegations against innocent Ethiopian nationals. Ethiopia and Kuwait have enjoyed long historical and close friendly relations.
The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Kuwait has full confidence that the authorities of the State of Kuwait will take appropriate measures to protect the safety and security of Ethiopian nationals in the country in light of such an incitement and will also take action regarding the defamation against Ethiopian nationals.
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