Well, here's a little light news on the country President Bush wanted to turn our ports over to.. Dubai's ruler has been accused of slavery.
Yep, in an action that gives new meaning to the perjorative `camel jockey' Dubai's ruler has been accused of enslaving thousands of young children to use as jockeys for camel races in a class-action lawsuit filed in the US.
The lawsuit claims Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, his brother Hamdam and 500 others are responsible for abducting and trafficking children.
The kids are mainly from Bangladesh, Sudan and southern Asia.
This is actually an old story, the kids are bought/kidnapped, starved to keep their weight and stature down and forced to race camels for their owners
The case was filed in Miami where Sheikh Mohammed and his brother, Sheikh Hamdam bin Rashid al-Maktoum, have property.
The two, along with the other 500 defendants who the suit says are as yet unknown, face nine counts.
They include engaging in slavery, conspiring to engage in slavery, engaging in or facilitating child labor, battery, assault, infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death.
The use of of child camel jockeys was banned in Dubai 13 years ago, but hey, you know, *wink wink*.
Just the sort of people we need as allies and friends, eh Mr. President? I wonder if they're buying children here in the US..
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