Filipino stabbed on visa run

DUBAI // A Filipino nurse from Dubai was stabbed, allegedly by a compatriot, at a hotel on Kish Island last week, relatives and a migrant rights group says.

Jonathan Villanueva Superial, 24, who was on the Gulf island on a visa run, was taken to a hospital after the incident last Tuesday. Mr Superial is back at the hotel awaiting his visa to return to Dubai, relatives say.

"We're so worried about his safety," said his aunt, Nenita Villanueva, 58, who works as a nanny in Dubai. "He didn't suffer minor injuries. What if he died?"

Nhel Morona, the secretary general of Migrante-UAE, said relatives of both Filipinos had sought their help last week.

Mr Morona called on the Philippine government to assist the men.

"The suspect is in the immigration jail while the victim could be suffering," he said. "Both require attention from our embassy."

Mr Morona said the suspect had been charged with "public disturbance", not attempted murder.

A Philippine envoy in Tehran said the embassy has been co-ordinating with Iranian authorities, through the ministry of foreign affairs, to be allowed to visit the suspect. It is still waiting for a travel permit.

rruiz@thenational.ae