A section of Pakistani Shia Muslims working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have alleged that they are losing their jobs due to their religious identity, and many are being expelled from the country. Simultaneously, there have been accusations of freezing the bank accounts of many expatriates. The affected individuals claim that the number of such incidents has significantly increased since the start of the Iran war.
An investigative report by the international media outlet NPR revealed that many Pakistani Shia Muslims working in the UAE were suddenly asked to report to police stations. Subsequently, they were detained and the expulsion process was completed. Many have stated that they were not informed of any crime or accusation against them.
Expatriates allege that security agencies have long been monitoring Shia mosques and religious activities. A Pakistani Shia working as a taxi driver in Dubai stated that he had been under surveillance since regularly participating in religious events and was later expelled.
Some Pakistani lawmakers and leaders of the Shia community claim that thousands of Shia Muslims have been repatriated from the UAE since February of this year. Various sources suggest this number could be between 5,000 and 18,000. However, the exact figure could not be confirmed.
Among those expelled, a person named Arsalan Hussein Bukhari reported that he was suddenly asked to go to a police station via a phone call. He was then taken to a detention center where thousands of people were awaiting expulsion. He alleged that they were subjected to humiliating treatment there.
Another alarming issue is that many expelled expatriates have returned home to find their bank accounts frozen. Consequently, they are unable to withdraw the money they saved through years of hard work. Some have returned to Pakistan in a destitute state, having lost their jobs, businesses, personal belongings, and savings.
A Reuters report stated that over a hundred Shia Muslim expatriates have returned from the UAE to various regions of Pakistan, many of whom could not bring their savings or personal belongings with them. Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, a Pakistani Shia political organization, claims that at least 7,500 Shia Muslims have been expelled since the start of the war.
On the other hand, UAE authorities have refused to comment in detail on these allegations. Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs also stated that no one was expelled due to religious identity; rather, expulsions occurred due to violations of UAE laws and regulations. However, Human Rights Watch is reportedly investigating the allegations.
According to analysts, the tensions created in the Middle East around the Iran war and Pakistan’s diplomatic stance have further complicated the situation. Many of the expelled individuals claimed that during interrogation, they were questioned about their religious beliefs, visits to Iran, and support for Iranian leadership.
Currently, approximately 1.8 million Pakistanis live and work in the UAE, sending several billion dollars in remittances back home each year. Consequently, these allegations of expulsion and bank account freezes have become a significant concern not only as a humanitarian crisis but also for Pakistan’s economy.