Monday, March 12, 2012

Group: UAE still races children on camels

A rights group says Asian boys are still abused as jockeys in camel races in the United Arab Emirates, even though the practice has been banned.

Anti-Slavery International says it has photographs showing boy jockeys _ some apparently only 10 years old _ in Abu Dhabi's 12-race competition on Feb. 9.

The London-based group, which issued the statement on Wednesday, campaigns for eradication of slavery.

In 2005, the oil-rich Emirates banned those under 18 from racing. It has since repatriated hundreds of South Asian boys who were trafficked to the Gulf to be used as camel jockeys.

The rights group says unnamed Emirates officials it spoke with claimed no laws were broken and that jockeys in the February race were Emiratis who raced with their parents' consent.

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