Al-Turki's defense claimed the case against him was a matter of cultural differences. Now the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has lent its influence to attempt to get him out of a prison sentence of 27 years to life, for behavior to which conditions in the Kingdom testify that it does not object.
From Arab News: "Officials Take Up Al-Turki Case With US"
JEDDAH, 4 September 2006 - Saudi officials have held high-level talks with US authorities in order to win the release of Homaidan Al-Turki, the Saudi man who was sentenced Aug. 31 by a Colorado court to 27 years to life in prison, the Saudi Press Agency said in a report yesterday.
"Senior Saudi officials have intervened at the highest level to resolve the case of Al-Turki," the agency said, quoting its correspondent in Washington, Abdul Mohsen Al-Misfer. He did not disclose further details.
According to SPA, American authorities first arrested Al-Turki in 2004 for allegedly violating immigration laws before releasing him on bail. In June 2006, he was arrested again for allegedly mistreating his Indonesian maid.
Al-Turki, a 37-year-old resident of Denver, was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison after he was convicted of unlawful sexual contact by use of force, theft and extortion.
Al-Turki, a linguist who worked at a Denver publishing and translating firm, denied the charges and blamed anti-Muslim prejudice for his conviction. He also said that prosecutors persuaded the housekeeper to accuse him after they failed to build a case against him as a terrorist.
Al-Turki said he had been under investigation as a suspected terrorist since 1995 but had never been charged with anything.
This Mohammedan hasn't been kidnapped, he broke the law, and violated another human being's civil and human rights. He is where he belongs.
The "Cultural differences" defense should demonstrate to everyone that the differences between Mohammedans and Westerners is a divide too great to bridge. If this is their "culture", then they can keep in over there.
The "anti-Muslim prejudice" accusation over his conviction is that same old crybaby crutch used by Muslim "civil rights" organizations.
Bush will work it for his boyfriend. After all, he loves to kiss that Saudi behind.
But it also is an issue of state rights. I assume jurisdictional issues will complicate this, and in an election period, I doubt this guy is going anywhere.
If he is going anywhere, it should be to the gallows. This man talks about anti moslem prejudice as being a factor, but he should look at his own house before condemning ours. This is not a defense, it is a lie.
I hope the Saudis spend millions and get nothing.
Enslavement and rape are conditions to which the saudi government does not object to. Speaks volumes about the sand crabs.
I'd be willing to trade this scumbag for some 1930's gas prices. If he's going to break the law, we ALL might as well benefit.
Watch this one closely folks; hold anyone who even calls for a talk about granting his release accountable. Keep notes on which side they take and vote accordingly. Anyone who could even consider letting trash like this go should never have been voted into office. When we allow others to violate our laws because they don’t understand them we can only call it what it is “surrender”. Sounds to me like you folks in Denver better start standing up for yourselves and quickly. A few letters can go along way to explain this is just another way for muslims in the US to be tried under shiria and not law. His lawyer understands this completely. According to cultural differences what he did was not only legal it is encouraged. What is it going to be Denver our law or theirs?
Militant Islam Monitor has a post about the al-turkis:
http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1287
The guy was a graduate student in linguistics for at least 10 years. Hmm. Seems like an excuse for a US visa to me. He also ran a publishing and translating company in Denver (al-basheer translations and publishing), with an online bookstore, and was connected to the islamic assembly of north America.
The Bush/Rice Axis will do everything thay can to get this you-know-what released. It is a state court, and I wonder what kind if pressure will be applied.
Bohemond_1069, I predict that the Saudis will spend nothing and still get what they want.
This story and the apologists who dismiss the criminal charges as merely cultural differences should remind people of the offical response to custom in colonial India where the wife of the deceased was burned alive on her husband's funeral pyre. The British general in charge of India, Sir Charles James Napier (1782-1853), famously said, "You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."
Visitors to foreign countries (even long term visa abusers) must follow the rules and regulations of that country. Claiming ignorance or citing cultural differences are not valid excuses for avoiding criminal charges. Wife beathing, for example, is a crime in the United States, even though it is sanctioned by the Koran. The same goes for taking minors as brides and having multiple wives.
The fact that the government of Saudi Arabia is rising to defend Al-Turki says volumes about that country's respect for the law and basic human rights.
This is a cultural misunderstanding. In Western nations, you go to prison for slavery. Someone should explain this to Saudi Arabia.
If I go to Saudi Arabia wearing a cross and have a bible in my suitcase, can I explaing to the authorities that it is just a cultural thing for me?
Denver Congressman Tancredo will not let Bush and his army of saudi hirelings get away with anything here. The fact that they would even TRY to subvert lawful court processes here is potentially damaging to these desert maggots.
Pelayo, with all due respect I've never known you to claim to be a prophet but we'll see. In any case I hope you're wrong. This punk deserves what he got.
The criminal has a web site - http://www.homaidanalturki.com - which includes a "send him a message" feature. Feel free to post your true feelings about this creature's behaviour.
You never outgrew the superhero syndrome of adolescence did you? Superman to the rescue. You must have listened one too many times to the Everly Brothers song "All I want to do is dream".
"The criminal has a web site - http://www.homaidanalturki.com - which includes a "send him a message" feature. Feel free to post your true feelings about this creature's behaviour."
Considering all the "WEa LUUV you al-Turki!" messages they probably delete the ones that point out he was CONVICTED of ENSLAVING a fellow human being. Or should I just say "enslaving a human being."
Al-Turki ... was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison after he was convicted of unlawful sexual contact by use of force, theft and extortion.
The poor schlub was only celebreating his religion's chief sacreament, the Sunnah.
Hero worship?? Not quite. Tancredo is already butting heads with Bush & Co on immigration reform and I really don't think he'd be shy about taking on this issue, if necessary.
I did like that Everly Bros song, though.
The outcome of this effort at subornation will serve as an acid test telling us who is actually in control of our justice system. We should all be watching this one with interest, as well as doing anything in our power to make certain that justice prevails.
I will wirte Tancredo an email.
I'm sure he will fight it tooth and nail.
He's one of the few left who can be called trustworthy.