Big companies namely MaxFactor, Parfums M Micallef, Chelsea Boutique were quick to severe their ties with Sondos Alqattan (Sondos_aq in instagram) and were later on joined by Anastasia Beverlyhills Cosmetics, MAC, Shiseido and Etude House. Public statements were issued denouncing SondosAlqattan on her hate speech endorsing modern day slavery and other violations of human rights specifically targeted against the Filipinos. This persona had fretted on the “one day off” dedicated as rest day for the “slaves” who work 24/7 while a good number of them get abused physically, sexually and emotionally by some cruel families that keep them. They are also starved and treated like toys and properties.
Passports were lawfully confiscated indiscriminately from architects, engineers, nurses, and the “slaves” - the domestic helpers.

Prompted by compelling evidences on videos where young girls were beaten, raped, taunted to jump off the window and the most gruesome were deaths, where one “slave” was found mutilated, beaten dead inside her “master’s” freezer; the Kuwaiti labor laws were somehow amended under the pressure of a travel ban called by the Philippine president Duterte.

The Kuwaiti government then changed their tone by constraining reasons that many or most Kuwaiti families would live without their “slaves”, and that some of the major positions in their industry are held by Filipino workers.

In some cases, these “slaves” were recruited in the Philippines for jobs described as educators/managers/restaurant staff. Only to find upon arrival that they were tricked into having a different job. That is, to stay and work as helpers for some cruel families unbeknownst to them, will later on abuse them. While some of the recruited young girls simply lacked education, unable to lean on the government for help for local sources of living from their own towns/country.

Back story: Passports were “lawfully” confiscated (notoriously in Kuwait) therefore workers were incapacitated to flee the country from maltreatment and abuse. Maimed and threatened, they therefore felt helpless to summon for help from the Kuwaiti authorities of which would naturally take sides with their fellow Kuwaitis . Males who were raped were too ashamed to come out and express their sentiments.

The issue on point is that the revised existing Kuwaiti labor law is being questioned and resisted by this persona Sondos Alqattan, who has 2 million followers in her Instagram and has her own line of products Boutiqat (her email sondos@sondosq.com). She is presently attempting for her sympathizers, followers and anyone with radical beliefs in slavery, to take massive leaps backwards and take away the “1-day off per week” and to again, confiscate the passports of the "slaves" that they have paid for. 

Such unapologetic action, responses and rebuttals are detrimental, posing threats to precious lives of hard working Filipinos and encourages other employers to continue massive human rights violations. Example of which is her question: “How is confiscation of passports by employers a human rights violation?” She then followed that by comparing it (plainly put, hostage of passports) with: “how the children don’t have their own passports in their own possession”.

Just to remind the readers, these actions had been freely practiced by “some” Arab countries for decades or centuries.

Presently, we as Filipinos all over the globe who has the leverage to be diplomatic and has the freedom to express our anguish and extend their compassion to the ones (regardless of their nationality) affected by this cruel practice, are requesting the whole world for help to close her Instagram, You Tube, and Twitter accounts. May I also call the attention of the United Nations to call out the Kuwaiti government to enforce by law, a “FAIR and JUST" treatment to the employees. As a community of diplomatic society, we also recommend that this persona, Sondos Alqattan be given thorough advice and explain to her the foresight that we perceive on the dangers and repercussions of the influence that she insists.

Let this be my ode dedicated to all who died and are still suffering against modern day slavery, that still exist in many nations. I am but one voice in the dark. Please help us you all, lovers of justice and freedom, guardians of democracy and peace.

Disclaimer: the images posted were taken from the internet. I do not have the chance or time to meet in person, from across the globe, to have a dialog much less to photograph the make up artist and media influencer (as she claims herself to be) being petitioned. I personally then thank the photographer, as well as the individual who placed the caption on the photo. 

Very truly yours,

C Quiblat