‘File 5/201 Manumission of slaves and rules relating to cases arising out of the pearling industry’ [‎9v] (25/50)

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(xii) Should civil claims or criminal complaints be preferred against
a refugee, as sometimes occurs, the following procedure should be observed—
(a) Civil claims—
(i) If the claim is connected with pearling transactions, it should be
referred to the Salifa Court at the place where the transaction
took place.
(ii) If it is an ordinary claim for a loan, &c., it should be referred to a
Civil Court of a Kazi, preferably a Kazi acceptable to both
parties.
In both cases a representative of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. or Consulate concerned
should be present.
{b) Criminal complaints—
The refugee should first be freed if he or she is entitled to freedom and
then the complaint should be enquired into and settled un
officially, if possible. If this cannot be done, the case should
be referred to a Shera or Consular Court or the local Adliyeh
according to the nationality of the complainant.
In the local court a representative of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. or Consulate should
be present at the enquiry.
It should be borne in mind, however, that no claim for debt can lie
against a person undoubtedly in state of bonded slavery.
(xiii) In the case of minors released from slavery, both in their own
interests and in order to save expense, the Political^ Agent may at his discretion
consign individuals during the years of their minority to the guardianship of
approved applicants, almost invariably Christians, to be brought up as
domestic servants, the said applicants executing a bond in which they
guarantee to produce their charges whenever required and give such other
undertakings in respect of them as the particular circumstances of the case
may render expedient.
Foreign Office Press—No. 757—14-3-13—50.