Expatriates and locals have praised King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for his pardon of all those who have broken the country's residency laws. The pardon gives illegal residents a six month window period – from Sept. 25 this year to March 23 next year – to apply to the Saudi authorities to leave the Kingdom. An estimated one to three million illegal residents are in Saudi Arabia. Khidar Mohammed, a social worker, said the King was “kind hearted” and that the decision will be welcomed by all illegal expatriates who cannot afford to travel home. K.T.A Muneer, an Indian overseas congress committee chairperson, echoed this view. “There is a terrible humanitarian crisis here because these illegal residents and overstayers have no way of getting out of the Kingdom without being caught and punished. The best example of this humanitarian crisis is those who are living under the bridge in Kandra in Jeddah. Now they can go back easily to their homeland, thanks to the kind gesture of the King.” He hoped all overstayers will make use of the amnesty and try to get repatriated, and not to repeat the same offense in future. Noorul Hussain, a Bangladeshi national, is looking forward to going home. “I have been in the Kingdom for the past three years and my sponsor declared me Horoob (a runaway). I was unable to go to my country. I will now approach the Saudi authorities to make arrangements for my return. I want to utilize this golden opportunity provided by King Abdullah,” he said. Saleemuddeen, a Pakistani national, said he brought his mother and father on a visit visa one year ago, but it has expired and he faces a huge fine and jail term. He said the pardon will make it easier for him to send his parents back home. Sharif Kochi, coordinator of the Kerala Relief Wing (KRW), a social organization working in the Kingdom among the Indian community, said the pardon will help thousands of illegal workers go home. He also thanked the King for his gesture. Naz Vakkam, a social worker in the Eastern Province, called on illegal residents to use this chance to go back home. He also thanked the King for his kind-hearted decision to help overstayers.
