MINGORA: The relatives of a transgender person, who died allegedly in custody of Saudi police, have demanded of the government to ask Saudi Arabia to launch an independent inquiry into the matter.

They alleged that Saudi police and other officials mistreated them when they tried to get the body of Mohammad Ameen alias Meeno for taking it to Pakistan. Mohammad Ameen, 65, belonged to Barikot tehsil in Swat.

He was reportedly arrested along with 34 others by Saudi police on February 26 for cross-dressing from a rest house in Riyadh. His relatives said that he died in police custody.

“Police and other relevant officials did not even talk to us and made us wait for hours for a single signature. They used to send us to one office from another to receive the body. After 10 days of tiring efforts and spending about 16,000 Saudi riyals we managed to get the body and bring it to Pakistan,” said Sher Zameen, the elder son of the deceased.

Deceased’s son says they spent 16,000 riyals and waited for 10 days to get body

He said that the wallet, mobile phone and other items of the deceased were also not given to the family. He said that Pakistani consulate did not help them in getting the body of his father.

“I was in pain due to my father’s death and the 10 days, which were spent to get and shift his dead body from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, made us crippled and senseless. Those were the harshest days of my life,” said Mr Zameen.

However, he praised Captain Ziyad, a police officer, for his good conduct. He said that at the end they were handed over a death certificate, stating the deceased died of heart attack.

Mohammad Ameen had been in Saudi Arabia for the last 15 years. He left behind a widow and nine children including four sons and five daughters. His villagers said that he was a well-mannered and kind person, who always helped others.

“We can’t believe that he is dead. He was like a family member to all the villagers and we all mourn his sudden and tragic death,” said Ajab Khan, a neighbour of the deceased who also spent a decade in Saudi Arabia.

The Transgender and Transvestite Association in Malakand division also demanded of the Saudi government and human rights organisations to probe the matter.

“We wanted to stage a protest when we came to know about Meeno’s death but his family asked us to refrain from holding protests,” said Nadia Khan, the local chief of the association. She added that Meeno would always visit them when he would come on leave and would bring gifts for them.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2017