I WENT to a shop at a telecommunications market in Riyadh to purchase a SIM card for my housemaid. When the shopkeeper handed me the SIM I then presented my civil status card, but he said there was no need for this. I asked him about a decision issued by the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) several years ago making it obligatory for people to present their identity cards when purchasing SIM cards. Also, the mobile SIM card cannot be recharged unless a person enters the number of his civil status card or residence permit (iqama). He replied: “You will find the iqama number with which you can recharge your SIM card on the back of the card.” Actually, I was stunned that such a thing can happen. I expected this to have occurred in this shop only. I then visited several shops and found out that they sell SIM cards using the same system. A question arose in my mind of whether it was believable that the CITC has issued a decision and is incapable of following up its implementation? I think that such a matter is extremely serious, especially if we take into consideration the existence of security and social risks in selling such SIM cards. More important questions arose. Who is the worker whose iqama number has been placed on the back of the SIM card? Does he know about this? Does he agree to this? Will he be held responsible if his iqama number is used in carrying out security offenses or violate social morals? Many questions occurred in my mind due to this experience and my astonishment that the decision to document every SIM card sold is not being implemented. The CITC decision makes it obligatory to register every sold mobile telephone SIM card in the name of the buyer and his identity card number. What I have seen with my own eyes and confirmed has caused me to lose good faith in telecommunication companies. I cannot believe that they do not know the way their SIM cards are being sold. It is also impossible to have good faith in the CITC that it does not know that unidentified SIM cards are being sold and recharged with unidentified iqama numbers. If these workers come to know that their iqama numbers are being used to obtain and recharge SIM cards, they will file lawsuits and get compensation due to this act that threatens security and society. Stopping the circulation of these SIM cards requires a law that protects the citizen and expatriate. The law should protect the workers whose residence permit numbers are being used for selling SIM cards. In mid-2012 a decision was issued by the CITC to impose a fine reaching SR5 million on telecommunication companies. I recall that at that time the three telecommunication companies requested a grace period from CITC in order to rectify their status. Has this rectification been carried out or is it simply the case that what actions they have actually taken aims to circumvent the CITC decision? Apart from these questions, one question should be added. Where are the campaigns for the inspection of violating shops that the CITC has threatened to carry out? Even other authorities, like the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, have threatened in several statements to carry out inspection campaigns. Are inspection campaigns actually being carried out? Is the existence of an iqama number on the back of the SIM card capable of placing the salesman in the dock? I think getting rid of this phenomenon is not difficult so long as there is determination and persistence. Keeping silent about circumventing the regulations is another issue that might need the attention of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
