09/16/2011 | 11:00 AM
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many expatriates, including
Filipinos, who are caught in a "debt trap" are forced to make a tough
choice between jail and suicide, the news site Khaleej Times said on Friday.
According to Khaleej Times, "Caught in the whirlpool of recession, job
and business losses, and mounting loan and credit card payments, many
expatriates come to the conclusion that their only choice is jail or
suicide."
The report cited Filipino expatriate "Lein F." who chose to go to jail and a certain "Anil Kumar" who chose to commit suicide.
Anil and his wife committed suicide after killing their daughter, the report said.
Lein, on the other hand, spent three-and-a-half months in jail due to bounced cheques, the report said.
Khaleej Times said many expatriates are harassed and subjected to mental
torture as they are unable to find employment and settle their mounting
bills.
Citing a report of Dr. Khalid Al Khazraji, Undersecretary of the
Ministry of Labour, the report said UAE's labor market comprises 202
nationalities, of whom almost 50 percent are Indians.
"Since 2009, when the global economic downturn was at its worst, many
had staggering amounts of personal loans and credit card payments. They
were further crippled as they lost jobs, delayed salaries, reduced pay
and incessant threatening calls from the banks to settle their debts,"
Khaleej Times said.
The report cited statistics that "at least 53 Indian nationals committed
suicide in the last nine months in Dubai and the Northern Emirates."
Afraid to compromise honor
In the Khaleej Times report, Dr. Raymond H. Hamden, Clinical and
Forensic Psychologist, said some "people commit suicide when they find
no ways to solve their problems that compromise their honor, respect and
trust of their families, community as well as creditors."
He noted that not all cultures put pressure on people to feel shame, guilt, and embarrassment.
However, those who are pressured to feel embarrassed may end up committing suicide, Hamden said in the report.
Khaleej Times said suicide "is a criminal act and it is against the teachings of the religion of Islam."
In the report, a police officer urged people with financial troubles to think of other solutions instead of committing suicide.
“Every problem in life has a solution. Killing oneself would never help
in solving a problem. They have to be patient and seek advice from
religious scholars whenever they have problems," the officer told
Khaleej Times. - VVP, GMA News
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/232562/pinoy-abroad/jail-or-suicide-caught-in-debt-trap-some-pinoys-make-tough-choices
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