Justice will Prevail!

A Saudi man convicted of sexually assaulting an Indonesian housekeeper and keeping her as a virtual slave was sentenced yesterday to 27 years to life in prison in Colorado. Al-Turki, who was studying for a doctoral degree at the University of Colorado, was convicted June 30 of unlawful sexual contact by use of force, theft and extortion. All are felonies.

“The problem is that in Saudi Arabia, many are going to take Al-Turki’s side, and say he was a good guy, which isn’t true,” said a Saudi businessman working in Washington who is following the case but requested anonymity. “He truly did some awful things.”

Bakr Bagader, member of the Saudi National Human Rights Society (NHRS), said the Saudi government should ensure that the man is indeed guilty. “If the man is given a fair trial and is found guilty of sexual assault, backed up by solid evidence, then no one should be above the law,” said Bagader.

“The American government and our government should work together to clarify to Saudis heading to the US for vacation or education purposes, who wish to take their housekeepers, what they should do and what they shouldn’t according to US law,” he said. But, he added, the mistreatment of housekeepers is a problem in the Kingdom. “Our society needs to become more aware of housekeepers’ human rights,” he said.

Considering this article is published by "Arab News", an English Daily Newspaper in Saudi Arabia is an eye opener. A bold step to for a paper published and read in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran.

Why only "aware" of housemaid's human rights? Basic kindness to all humans should be taught rathered than just the treatment of housemaids clarified. However, it will be a welcome sight to see fewer number of maids being tagged along like rag dolls in the airports and in other countries.

Why only them? We, in this country too, could do well remembering a lesson on treating others with respect and dignity!

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. - Martin Luther King Jr.