Video of Bahraini slapping Asian worker brews controversy

Manama

 A video of a Bahraini national slapping a South Asian migrant labourer has sparked outrage among the online community.

 The video, uploaded by a Saudi newspaper earlier this month, showed the localite, who was carrying a water bucket, approaching the Asian labourer and slapping him without any warning. The Bahraini was also seen mocking the worker as he stood shocked after the incident.

 Since the video went viral, hashtags translating ‘Bahraini slaps Worker’ and ‘Indian worker slapped’ have been trending on Twitter. Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa took to the micro-blogging site to lend his support to the Asian worker. He also expressed his disguist by the localite’s act.

 “The worker came from his country to struggle for a small wage and this dirty mean man comes and slaps him… I hope he will be punished,” the minister tweeted.

 According to a post on the Interior ministry’s website, police have reportedly arrested four people in connection with the incident.

 In a country, where more than half of the population are migrants, steps have been taken in recent years to improve their conditions, which were a success, following Bahrain’s recent removal from a US human trafficking ‘watch list’.