Something suspicious in my neighbourhood.....
I heard loud screams at around 11.30pm last night. It was a woman's voice like she was pleading something to somebody...continuously for a minute or so she was just shouting ," Mama...mama.........(I cann't understand the language). Then suddenly two strong thuud....thudd and everything went dead silent after that. I wanted to do something but I couldn't. Call me chicken but as an expatriate I don't know if I am having any rights to intervene. We are new in this apartments and that family lives here since last 7-8 yrs. They are from Jordan as told by previous tenant. They are having an Idonasian looking maid. (not sure abt nationality). When my Mom was here with us last month. I recall, she also heard some sreaming from that flat.
You people are aware that even saying something online could be taken as offensive in this part. And truly I was concerned abt my safety as well as job security of my husband. I don't know how influential that family might be. And we are certainly not in position to get back home and start all over again.
I really wanted to do something and today's Gulf Times has given me some hopes. So, then I choose to be horribly wrong than horribly too late!!!
I had already written a mail to GT. Please tell me who are the authorities like where I can raise my voice and same time can keep my anonimity.
any progress in the matter shreeya?
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Shreeya, if its true what you say that they are Jordanian, then you have to fear very little if you talkt to the police. In Qatar Jordanians have a very "shaky" stand when it comes to legal matters.
I would not be scared of anything, foreigner or not. My experience so far here is, that we are treated no different, well sometimes maybe even with more respect by the authorities then locals.
There is also a family counseling center, maybe you start off with a call there, since they are the "pro's" when it comes to domestic issues.
Plankton
Thanks, I'll take the ultimate care.
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didn't u consider that they might have an elder girl? i don't think that "mama" is a cry for help by the maid, just please take it easy so ur relationship with ur neighbor dosn't end in the wrong place,
Anyway hope u peace of mind, but remember if u reported don't put any assumptions, just say what u heard, because false accusations is punished by law.
you make sure about its whats happening there
Well, you said that you can help it out in police matters...but how? Do you have some numbers or contacts?
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I can clearly differentiate the voice of a child from that of a grown-up woman. Further more, I have noticed that here they call 'Mama..' to an elderly woman.
Well, guys I am taking some steps from my side. But talking to her is clearly ruled out as don't want to go to that home personally.
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Please make sure that the sound is not from Television or somthing else.
I wont think the condition is that much worst, most probably the maid wont have any RP, she might be came out from some Qatari family. If you inform police police will come and if she cant produse her RP police will send her to her contry and some time the maid also will change up her mind, she may inform police that nothing had happend and she is alright, then Shreeya become a fool infront of all.
Thats why i told first try to understand the issue clearly, then take the next step
what are u talking about ppl. the sound said "mama, mama" means some girl or boy calling for his mom, is this a reason to call police to ur neighbor!!!!
nice advice but if the violence is extremely bad, the maid or wife might not be around (alive) to talk to! If you made a mistake, its easier to say I'm sorry than to have to go to a funeral.
Phone the police immediately when you hear something like that Shreeya...someone's life could depend upon it.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
--Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Make sure about it, if possible try to talk with that maid. once you confirm and understood the issue, you go for the next step. If you need any help from Police and legal department I am ready to help you. But make sure that issue is genuine.
Me too, Hamlet.
When you hear someone screaming like that, they're obviously in danger.
Call the police!!
I agree with you 100%
"What makes you different can make all the difference in the World"
Shreaya...
I dont think GT can do anything in this matter. Whenever you hear screams or anything rightaway you should call the police and inform. Just say like....violent screams are coming out from my neighbourhood or so. They will come and enquire. You dont have to make any accusations like they are abusing their house maid. Sometimes that cuprit might be treating his housemaid specialy and abusing his wife........
just call police....
Don't you all exagurate a bit here?, I have been living here for 6 years, and I never had an experience of being an inferior or threatened for being an expat, call the police and let them know....Qatar does't tolerate such abuse for maids trust me
"What makes you different can make all the difference in the World"
hi shreeya, i dont know whom to contact regarding this issue, but as most post said, contact the police. please do it as soon as possible. dont wait anything to happen to any of those people there. yes it is scary being an expat in this country. but i think this is the right thing to do. im sure the authorities will support you in remaining anonymous in this matter.
I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it. ~Charles Schulz
I don't think writing to GT will help Shreeya. I hope you will contact the police to come around and investigate. Nothing will happen to you. It is your right to ask the police to come and investigate strange violent noises.
You can say that you don't know which apartment it was coming from so they will check all of them.
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I have already written a mail to GT. And yes, I can't inform the embassy as I am not sure about her nationality. We are only 6 families in this apt complex and only two of them have maids living with them. One is Qatari family and another one is this Jordanian family.
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Please do something. You can call the Capital Police and ask to remain anonymous. They will go around to the house and enquire about the people living there.
rdsouza, I don't think Shreeya ought to inform the embassy before the police investigate.
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You don't want a womens death on your conscience. Its obvious there is abuse.
This is qatar .. if the family has influence, no matter what it is gonna be trouble .. if not .. then they are in trouble..
but I know of lot of instance where the police have been really helpful .. and there is a website, where you can report these things .. i don't remember what the url is ..
Inform the embassy of the maid send anonymous complaint to the police and see if there are any welfare associations of that nationality.You could save a life...
Best of luck,God bless yu
This is Qatar and that's what the major concern....
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No need to be that scared !!!! If you feel something is wrong, call the police, this is Qatar and not North Korea for gods sake !!!!!!
"What makes you different can make all the difference in the World"