___Online:Human Rights Watch report on Oman: https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/07/13/i-was-sold/abuse-and-exploitation-migrant-domestic-workers-oman___Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap. Several of the women who spoke to Human Rights Watch described the situation as them being "bought" by Omanis. Oman's government-sponsored Human Rights Commission and the Omani Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) " A leading international rights group on Wednesday said that foreigners employed as maids in Oman can face physical and verbal abuse while working entrapped in conditions that near slavery. A new Human Rights Watch report blames in part Oman's system of tying workers' visas to their employers, as well as police failing to enforce laws and returning runaway maids to abusive homes.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 13, 2016 04:07 UTC