ammonnews.net

By Abdelrahman Mitib AltakhainehA - few weeks ago, an Indian diplomat in New York City was arrested. Devyani Khobragade, India’s deputy consul general in New York City was arrested and accused of several crimes like submitting false documents and not paying her maid the minimum wage. According to the media, reported by her lawyer, Devyani Khobragadewas publicly handcuffed, strip-searched, and kept in a cell with criminals and drug dealers. She was finally released on $250,000 bail.

The arrest and the treatment of American authority to Devyani in custody caused uproar in India by Indian citizens. One week later, some signs appeared to indicate an all-out diplomatic row with the USA. I have been and I still a great respect to the American law and court. However, if the same treatment happened to an American in any country all over the world, what could the American reaction be? I have no definite answer, but I think that the USA will accuse that country of being a barbarian country and showing no respect to human rights.

Khobragade’s treatment in custody was unfair. Although it was claimed that under the U.N.’s 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Khobragade does have limited diplomatic immunity for work in the official line of duty, I think that she is a diplomat and human first. American officials say that, withinthose guidelines, consular officials can still be arrested or detained for a felony. Again, she is human and has her own rights regardless of her diplomacy roles in the USA.

Most importantly, many in India are against the idea that Khobragade was treated like a “common criminal” when she was arrested and booked. Her father stated that, “As a father I feel hurt, our entire family is traumatized”. The official statement from the Indian government said it was “shocked and appalled at the manner in which the diplomat had been humiliated.”Also, India cracks down on US embassy club in diplomatic row and announces that USA embassy must cease commercial activities benefiting non-diplomats. All these reactions and many more I am not going to mention is after Indian envoy's arrest in New York.

I admit that the USA is land of freedom and human rights. However, they have to stick with this forever. We all remember and recognize that the first human rights organization in the Thirteen Colonies of British America, dedicated to the abolition of slavery. It was formed by Anthony Benezet in 1775.

I hope that people all over the world should serve justice regardless of race, color, religion, social status or politics benefits. I believe that when justice goes unserved, the world’s balance will be lost. Well done, India!