WASHINGTON: An source close to the Saudi Arabia diplomatic mission in Washington DC has told Bikyanews.com that the women found at a house owned by the ultra-conservative Gulf Kingdom were there to be "sex slaves." The source, who was formerly a mid-level diplomat with the Saudi government, was speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the information and the situation facing the Saudi government and the women in Mclean, Virginia, just outside the American capital. "We all know that Saudi Arabia is known for its poor treatment of women. This was even shown in television shows recently," the source said. "But what was happening at this home was women as sex slaves and people would come over and use them however they wanted. It was shocking and everyone in the embassy knew." According to reports from police and news websites, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers raided the villa in McLean, which is owned by the Saudi Armed Forces Office and believed to house its defense attaché, on Tuesday night and removed two workers from the Philippines who are suspected to have been the "victims of domestic servitude." One woman reportedly tried to flee by squeezing through a gap in the front gate as it was closing. "She definitely didn't want to be caught because we know there are things the Saudi government has on her that would be devastating, especially towards her loved one," said the source. Immigration officials said the investigation is not complete, and that the workers were removed to ‘protect their safety if in fact the accusations turn out to be true' according to one report. It is not yet clear if the women alerted authorities or if someone else called them in. Fairfax County police were called in to help. The Saudi embassy in Washington refused to answer any questions from Bikyanews.com.ICE spokesman Brandon Montgomery said that if investigators get reasonable information or confirmation, they would "rescue the individuals and begin a full investigation, not let them linger in potential abuse." If ICE officials do determine a crime has been committed, a possibility exists that no charges will be filed due to diplomatic immunity. Recent arms sales from the US to the oil rich kingdom included one deal in 2011 which reached around £40billion – almost the same as UK's entire annual defense budget. BN
