Cultural Misunderstanding Leads to Unfortunate Consequences
A 45-year-old Indian chemical engineer residing in Saudi Arabia was imprisoned due to a misunderstanding over the religious significance of the swastika symbol on the gate of his home. The engineer, hailing from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, has been working in Saudi Arabia for over a year and had recently brought his family to live with him.
Swastika Confusion Prompts Police Action
Originating from their religious belief, the family marked the swastika, a sacred Hindu symbol, on their home’s gate. Unfortunately, a local Arab neighbor misinterpreted it as a Nazi symbol, leading to a police complaint and life threat against the engineer. Despite his efforts to clarify the symbol’s Hindu religious significance, the engineer was arrested and incarcerated.
NRI Activists Intercede for the Engineer
After learning about the incident, NRI activist Muzammil Shaikh stepped in to aid the engineer. He elucidated the swastika’s cultural and religious importance in Hinduism to the officials, highlighting the symbol as an emblem of happiness and prosperity in Hindu homes. Fellow activist Nais Shaukat Ali from Kerala also offered assistance. However, due to the weekend, the engineer will remain in jail for two days despite the misunderstanding being clarified.
Key Points:
- Indian engineer in Saudi Arabia jailed due to a misunderstanding over a swastika symbol on his home’s gate.
- Despite the engineer’s explanation of the symbol’s Hindu significance, he was arrested and sent to jail.
- NRI activists Muzammil Shaikh and Nais Shaukat Ali came forward to help, explaining the cultural significance of the symbol to the authorities.
- Despite the clarification, the engineer has to spend two days in jail due to the weekend.
