Camel jockeys == child slaves

[Abdul Alhazred]

Yes I'm aware that 'camel jockey' is an ethnic epithet for Arabs in the USA and perhaps in the rest of the Anglophere, and maybe elsewhere.

But there really are literally camel jockeys and it's no joke.

See this:
Camel Jockeys in the Middle East (http://www.camelraces.com/)

Sample:
The jockeys will typically start their life in the same way as millions of other children in the Indian subcontinent. Perhaps having parents who are poor, but still have dreams for their sons which do not involve camels. Then maybe at the age of two or three the children go outside to play and never return. They are kidnapped by local gangs who will deal in any commodity that makes money. The children will then be taken by adults who when questioned may claim to be the children's parents. They will then travel, perhaps along the ancient slave routes to Karachi, and across the Gulf.


It's important to point out that camel races or any form of gambling is absolutely prohibited by the Muslim religion.

This is a question of rich pigs, not Islam. Click the link.

[Hutch]

Since I lived in the United Arab Emirates for four years, I am acquainted with this, um, custom.

It is definitely something for the well-to-do, as the tracks are several miles long and the racers are followed on the outside by folks in 4WD Land Cruisers shouting instructions. It exists mostly in the UAE because Sheik Zayed, the ruler of UAE, wants to keep "traditional" sports and pastimes alive.

According to www.globalmarch.org/clns/clns-15-08-2002.htm, the UAE has passed laws saying jockeys must be at least 15 years of age and using little children as jockeys has been illegal since 1980. Of course, making those laws and enforcing them when the rulers of the Emirates and their families are heavily involved is another thing altogether. And while camel races are reported in the local papers, not much is said about the jockeys--the writers know what they can and cannot say in an oligarchical/monarchy.

A sad state of affairs but unless it comes to light as you have tried to do, AA, it will continue.