Palestinian refugees from Syria in Saudi Arabia have sounded the alarm over the mistreatment they have been subjected to after the Saudi authorities prevented them of their basic rights, including the right to a visa, education, and free medical care.

A Palestinian family who fled war-torn Syria said they entered Saudi Arabia as pilgrims to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage). The visa expired one month later and the family was ordered to leave Saudi Arabia after local authorities refused to renew their visas.

“The Saudi authorities also prevented our children from enrolling at local schools and denied us access to the labor market on account that we overstayed our visas,” the family stated.

The father added that they have been shorn of the right to free medical treatment.

“We’ve seen it all in Saudi clinics. When my wife delivered our newborn we’d been forced to pay all treatment fees,” he said.

Another family said they have spent sleepless nights after their relative was buried two months following his death because they do not have visas. “Animals have more rights than we do,” stated the family.