PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Eight Gambian women rescued from slavery in Egypt
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Eight Gambian women who were trafficked to Egypt on the promise of getting them hotel jobs and good pay have been rescued, PANA confirmed on Saturday.
According to Hatem Raslan, Gambian Honorary Consul in Egypt, preparations were at an advanced stage to get the women back to Gambia and emergency passports were being prepared for them.
Raslan disclosed that the women were fooled by a sophisticated network of people with links in many countries, who made their victims believe that they would secure jobs in a five-star hotel in Egypt.
He said human trafficking syndicates got the women into the country, seized their passports, put them to work without pay in slave-like conditions.
Hatem, who also heads Saad M Raslan International Trading Company, narrated that when he discovered the case involving the eight Gambian women in Cairo, he had to help them with a house to stay until they return home.
He rescued seven of the women with the help of Gambia Student Union in Egypt. “We need investments in the Gambia to create jobs. When people get employed, a lot of them will stay,” Mr. Raslan emphasized.
He also called on Gambians, especially the youth, to stay home and have something to do rather than engaging in risky journeys. He said the country now has a good government that is trying to create an enabling environment for businesses and people while urging Gambians to take advantage of such opportunity.
Mr. Raslan spoke against the “back way” syndrome (travelling to Europe via Libya and Mediterranean Sea) saying it was about time something was done to make a definitive stop to it. He said Gambian youth risked a lot by undertaking a perilous journey to Europe and other places at all cost.
“Things are not like before in Europe. Things are difficult, so it is better for the youth to stay,” he stressed.
-0- PANA MLJ/AR 6Jan2018
According to Hatem Raslan, Gambian Honorary Consul in Egypt, preparations were at an advanced stage to get the women back to Gambia and emergency passports were being prepared for them.
Raslan disclosed that the women were fooled by a sophisticated network of people with links in many countries, who made their victims believe that they would secure jobs in a five-star hotel in Egypt.
He said human trafficking syndicates got the women into the country, seized their passports, put them to work without pay in slave-like conditions.
Hatem, who also heads Saad M Raslan International Trading Company, narrated that when he discovered the case involving the eight Gambian women in Cairo, he had to help them with a house to stay until they return home.
He rescued seven of the women with the help of Gambia Student Union in Egypt. “We need investments in the Gambia to create jobs. When people get employed, a lot of them will stay,” Mr. Raslan emphasized.
He also called on Gambians, especially the youth, to stay home and have something to do rather than engaging in risky journeys. He said the country now has a good government that is trying to create an enabling environment for businesses and people while urging Gambians to take advantage of such opportunity.
Mr. Raslan spoke against the “back way” syndrome (travelling to Europe via Libya and Mediterranean Sea) saying it was about time something was done to make a definitive stop to it. He said Gambian youth risked a lot by undertaking a perilous journey to Europe and other places at all cost.
“Things are not like before in Europe. Things are difficult, so it is better for the youth to stay,” he stressed.
-0- PANA MLJ/AR 6Jan2018
