Saudi Cops Drag Crying Egyptian Through Streets

Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

Newsflash

This is the moment a crying Egyptian man is dragged through the street by Saudi cops after he threatened to protest at not being allowed to go home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The startling scenes were reportedly recorded after the man, who has not been named in reports, threatened to carry out a protest in front of the Egyptian embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh following weeks of failed attempts to return to his native country.

In the video, the man can be seen crying as he is dragged along a street by his feet by Saudi security forces during his reported arrest.

The man can be heard crying out “I swear to God, I did not mean it”.

Local media report the man had previously posted videos to social media threatening to replicate demonstrations by Egyptians outside their embassy in Kuwait earlier in May calling for repatriation.

Newsflash

Reports state Kuwaiti police dispersed what they called a riot of stranded Egyptians, with local media stating that tear gas was seemingly used by the authorities.

Saudi Arabia relies on a huge number of foreign workers to maintain its economy and many of these workers are now reportedly trapped in the country because of worldwide travel restrictions brought in during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports state the virus is affecting labour camps in Gulf states and many workers are losing their jobs in their economic downturn.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Saudi Arabia has suffered 39,048 cases of COVID-19 with 246 deaths.

It is unclear if the man in the video has been charged.