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Homaidan Al-Turki Update from Arab News:
WASHINGTON, 1 September 2006 - 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.
Homaidan Al-Turki, the 37-year-old Saudi national, denied the charges and blamed anti-Muslim prejudice for the case against him. He said prosecutors persuaded the housekeeper to accuse him after they failed to build a case that he was a terrorist.
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.
He was also convicted on misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment.
After the judge denied a motion for a new trial yesterday, defense attorney John Richilano said he would appeal the convictions. The lawyer argued that cultural differences were at the heart of the charges.
It must be emphasized that such "cultural differences" are rooted in the Qur'an and thus considered divine fiat for all time:
Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom your right hands possess. (4:24)
The Saudi Embassy in Washington would not comment on the case.
"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.
Prosecutors and FBI agents said Al-Turki and his wife, Sarah Khonaizan, brought the woman to Colorado to care for their five children and to cook and clean for the family. An affidavit said she spent four years with the family in their suburban Colorado home, sleeping on a mattress on the basement floor and getting paid less than $2 a day.
The media have not identified the woman, who is now 24, because she is an alleged victim of rape.
Al-Turki said he treated the woman the same way any observant Muslim family would treat a daughter. "Your honor, I am not here to apologize, for I cannot apologize for things I did not do and for crimes I did not commit," he told the judge. "The state has criminalized these basic Muslim behaviors. Attacking traditional Muslim behaviors was the focal point of the prosecution."
[...]
Dozens of members of the Denver area Muslim community, including Al-Turki’s family and the prayer leader of the state’s largest mosque, packed the courtroom. Many had written to the judge expressing support for Al-Turki. Other letters of support came from Al-Turki’s academic colleagues at the University of Colorado.
The NHRS’ Bagader said that setting aside the more serious charges related to sexual assault, he felt there were some cultural issues that may indeed be at play on some of the evidence related to illegal imprisonment, such as the allegation that Al-Turki was holding the maid’s passport.
"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.
"What they should do and what they shouldn’t according" to the laws of the US, or anywhere else in the civilized world.
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. "We all know there are a lot of cases raised against Saudis for the abuse of housemaids."
Legal adviser Mohammed Al-Abdali, however, said he felt like the sentence of 27 years to life is a "down point for the American courts that we used to respect and admire."
"There was no justice in this case according to what we have learned," said Al-Abdali. "To my knowledge, the evidence against him doesn’t hold up on both verdicts.
They used holding her passport, which most Saudis and GCC citizens do because a lot of housekeepers flee and tend to work for illegitimate networks, as evidence."
Posted by Marisol at September 1, 2006 1:44 AM
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Al-Turki said he treated the woman the same way any observant Muslim family would treat a daughter.
Anybody think there is anything else that needs to be said?
.
.
.
.
/crickets
I can't think of anything more, either.
L.Drummond
Posted by: L.Drummond![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 1, 2006 2:00 AM
27 years, for what they would consider the criminal equivalent to dropping litter. Expect more bombings, how dare the infidels presume to know better than we, we are the followers of the one true god. You can bet your life that there will be no heart searching or thinking, that perhaps we might have got it wrong. Well done America, you have reasserted that American law rules and Shari.
Posted by: Holger Dansker at September 1, 2006 2:24 AM
27 years, for what they would consider the criminal equivalent to dropping litter. Expect more bombings, how dare the infidels presume to know better than we, we are the followers of the one true god. You can bet your life that there will be no heart searching or thinking, that perhaps we might have got it wrong. Well done America, you have reasserted that American law rules and (NOT) Shari. Sorry about that I was too impatient to have my say.
Posted by: Holger Dansker at September 1, 2006 2:26 AM
The lawyer argued that cultural differences were at the heart of the charges.
What happened to that old trope ‘diversity is our strength?’ Western governments were warned that muslims don’t make good migrants. There is not one Western country that can point to seamless muslim migration. I hope the cost of this trial and the cost of keeping him in prison is sheeted home to multiculturalism rather than a law and order issue.
at September 1, 2006 3:18 AM
This is the best news I have heard all day regarding islam!!
Posted by: Gramfan at September 1, 2006 3:28 AM
"The lawyer argued that cultural differences were at the heart of the charges."
The lawyer is right. "Build your funeral pyre; beside it my carpenters will build a gallows."
Posted by: ZionistYoungster at September 1, 2006 4:12 AM
It's not just maids and daughters.
I used to live next door to a young (childless, maidless) Saudi couple in a student dorm, a house with a shared kitchen/TV-room and a bedroom with own bathroom for each tenant. They were gloomy, antisocial and obviously "deeply religious", wearing only what is nicely called "traditional Saudi garb". Never used the shared kitchen, never said hello to anyone, never talked to anyone, never looked into the eye. During the 3 months we lived as neighbors, I only saw the wife (or rather, the heap of faceless black cloth that supposedly contained her) 2 or 3 times, in her master's company, 2 meters behind him, head down. She spent the days in the small room, doing Allah-knows-what. He was away for days and came back in the evenings, then furiously shouted at the wife (and apparently, sometimes beat her -- "lightly", I suppose), until she cried in misery and regret, and after that they had sex (wouldn't say "made love"). I heard it all through the wall, each and every night. I was very young at the time, didn't know anything about Islam - although, instinctively I hated it, based on that little that I did know. Mostly I remember wondering, what could the silent invisible person that spent the days alone in that little room with bathroom, possibly have done in there to provoke such angry, enraged shouting (and beating) sessions from her "husbaned" each and every night, day in, day out. I never figured it out.
Now I know better: she didn't do anything. She didn't need to.
Posted by: rahel at September 1, 2006 5:27 AM
The lawyer is correct when he says there are cultural differences here. From an Islamic perspective, the man cannot be guilty. Sharia law would never convict him. The maid's testimoney is incompetent and inadmissible. As a witness she counts as less than 1/2 a person. On appeal before an Islamic court, the conviction would be reversed for a lack of corroboration.
Posted by: David England at September 1, 2006 7:30 AM
"The lawyer argued that cultural differences were at the heart of the charges." - He should have stayed in the other "culture" then
"the Saudi government should ensure that the man is indeed guilty", "To my knowledge, the evidence against him doesn’t hold up on both verdicts." = lacking 4 pious male witnesses' affirmation, case closed.
"Your honor, I am not here to apologize" - not required, you're going to jail
"The state has criminalized these basic Muslim behaviors. Attacking traditional Muslim behaviors was the focal point of the prosecution." - Yes, we have, and it was
"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," - No, that's your job, ignorance of the host country's laws is no excuse. When was the last time you "clarified" Christian observance regulations in Saudi?
"down point for the American courts that we used to respect and admire." Yes, you liked us better when we were afraid of you
Posted by: Concerned Citizen at September 1, 2006 7:58 AM
What is going to happen to his wife? She was charged too, I hope. She also deserves 27 years for being involved in this disgusting crime.
Posted by: ryoga at September 1, 2006 9:13 AM
Another 'cultural difference' to remember in this case:
Arab supremacy.
The maid was an inferior from Indonesia.
Posted by: PRCS at September 1, 2006 9:34 AM
In places like Colorado and the rest of middle america we have an old saying:
"Your rights stop at my nose."
The same should be said about cultural values.
It's only proper that cultural values that don't stop at 'another person's nose' should be grounds for long prison terms. Every time.
Never give up. It takes a while to get a juggernaut rolling.
at September 1, 2006 9:43 AM
ryoga in regards to the wife...saw this yesterday on Foxnews.com:
"Al-Turki, a linguist who worked at a Denver publishing and translating company, also faces trial in federal court in October on charges of forced labor, document servitude and harboring an illegal immigrant.
"In April, he and Khonaizan (the wife) agreed to pay the nanny about $64,000 (euro49,800) in wages to settle a Labor Department lawsuit. He could also face restitution payments in the state case. The judge said he would rule on that later.
"Khonaizan pleaded guilty to a federal immigration charge and a state theft charge. She was sentenced to home detention and probation in the federal case and two months in jail in the state case. Her attorney, Forrest Lewis, has said she wants to return to Saudi Arabia and will not fight deportation."
A couple things come to mind looking at this report. What was the immigration charge? Is the firm Al-Turki worked for something else that should be investigated?
at September 1, 2006 10:24 AM
GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am delighted to see this. Well Done.
The Arabs think that by paying a measly salary from their petro-dollars, they have a perpetual slave. The Arabs treat their maids like slaves and worse, they abuse them sexually, give them leftover scraps for meals, and generally have no consideration or awareness for any human rights.
This man and countless others like him deserve the punishment he's got.
¡¡Olé Olé olé!!!!
Posted by: pissbeuponmo at September 1, 2006 10:55 AM
nasheem? up yours.
democracy destroying democracy?
LOL, you know, slavery for USA is so a soft spot that no muslim whining is going to suppress.
27 YEARS! yeah.
Posted by: FedUp at September 1, 2006 3:10 PM
Send him a cake with a file in it. 27 years!
: - )
at September 1, 2006 3:44 PM
"They used holding her passport, which most Saudis and GCC citizens do because a lot of housekeepers flee and tend to work for illegitimate networks, as evidence."
Did a lawyer in our country just admit that Saudis hold passports and take the position that a housekeeper (who presumably had to come over on her own visa) has to "flee" rather than just seek similar employment elsewhere?
Posted by: winoceros at September 1, 2006 4:52 PM
A couple of thoughts, Al Turki means The Turk, much as al Libani means the Lebanese, al Ameriki the American, al Yamani the Yemeni, al Britti the Brit etc..
Also Prince al Turki is the Saudi interface with and best friend of Osama.
As others pointed out, the lawyer was correct, at the heart of the matter is the wide gulf that seperates Islamic behavior, norms, customs and laws from those of the west.. and that is a gulf that no bridge or tunnel can cross.
Two irreconcilable and incompatible cultures cannot exist in the same land.. something the Muslims themselves know, especially Saudi Arabia, which forbids any culture (religion) but Islam on their soil and the administration of any law but Shari'a on their soil.
Posted by: Nariz at September 1, 2006 8:26 PM
They used holding her passport, which most Saudis and GCC citizens do because a lot of housekeepers flee...
...............
As Winocero above mentions, this is alarming in itself (and something I have heard many times before). The idea that an employee would "flee", rather than simply give notice and quit, is bizarre by any decent standard. I had some crummy jobs in housekeeping when I was a student, but none so awful that I had to flee (although I did quit a couple of times after a few days).
How bad do things have to get for a friendless employee in a foreign country with no money before she feels she has no recourse but to flee her employers?
Posted by: gravenimage at September 1, 2006 10:56 PM
This slimy couple has four daughters, at least one of whom lived in the same Colorado house, living a good life here in the USA, while another human being was being kept as a slave.
This from the Gates of Vienna blog:
After the jury statement was read [this past July] there was great drama in the courtroom supplied by the family and members of the Colorado Muslim Council. One man was ejected from the courtroom, and one of al-Turki’s daughters was carried out, crying, “What did he do?” It is hard to comprehend that she doesn’t know what Dad did to their slave who lived in the basement for four years, at least in this country.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2006/07/saudi-slave-owner-in-slammer.html
And from this article, not one word of concern or compassion for the Indonesian woman:
Saudi students await the sentencing of Humaidan al Turki case
http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=6198
at September 2, 2006 12:07 AM
In order to have some idea of the moral blindness of the Saudi press, and of the Saudis generally, whether in Saudi Arabia or in this country, the story to which a link is given above, and that appeared in Asharq Al Awsat, an English-language Saudi-supported paper, should be given in full. Here it is:
"Saudi students await the sentencing of Humaidan al Turki case
30/08/2006
By Habib Abdullah
Asharq Al Awsat, Riyadh - Thousands of Saudis studying in the United States of America as part of an exchange academic program by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques are anxiously awaiting the sentencing of Homaidan al Turki on Thursday. Al Turki, a PhD student, faces charges of forced labor, involuntary servitude and harboring an illegal immigrant. In recent trial sessions, the judge has suggested the Saudi citizen could face lifetime imprisonment.
Al Turki was found guilty by a court in Denver, in Colorado. He will be sentenced on Thursday. John Rachilano, his defense lawyer, has stated that he would appeal the sentence that his client faces.
Asharq Al Awsat spoke to a number of Saudi students in the United States who expressed their fears on the trial’s impact on their academic future. They also indicated they were determined to follow the trial and learn about the US justice system.
A Saudi student told Asharq Al Awsat, on condition of anonymity, that al Turki’s case is important to him as he has also come to the US to study and fulfill his dreams. He feared other Saudi students could find themselves in a similar situation.
Another Saudi student in Colorado stated that the trial has occupied his mind since it began and that he no longer felt secure living in the US. As a direct result of the trial, he added, several Saudis and Muslim individuals, including veiled women, had been racially abused. He predicted that the outcome of the trial will cause Saudi students to reconsider whether to integrate in mainstream society and take part in social activities, for fear of being prosecuted in US courts.
A number of Saudi students who are spending their vacation in their native country have stated that al Turki did not fall foul American laws and was well known for his excellent manners and good treatment of others. In their view, if these factors failed to help him in his fight for justice and to reclaim his innocence, the image of the American judicial system would be tarnished in the eyes of Saudi students.
Abdullah Dawood told Asharq Al Awsat that during al Turki's stay in the US, he introduced non-Muslims to Islam and supported the Denver Islamic school. Al Turki also translated a number of Islamic books and sought to gather Muslim and Saudi students in Colorado, offering his assistance to all of them.
Humaidan al Turki's wife, Sarah Khonaizan, is currently serving a one-month prison sentence. Together, they have four daughters. The trial saw members of the Muslim community in Colorado and al Turki's lecturers unite to show support of the Saudi PhD student."
One's disgust only grows.
at September 2, 2006 12:36 AM
Now let's hope that Homaidan Al-Turki gets as a cell-mate, the biggest, meanest, most-perverted, sick, gangbangin, HIV positive thug who will turn Al-Turki out to be the prison "bitch". Maybe then this creep will understand that sexual assault and enslavement aren't just a "cultural issues".
Let him reap what he sowed.
Posted by: Provoslavni at September 2, 2006 1:52 AM
It seems the tide is turning and that America and Americans are fed up with all muslims. The heavy sentence is just.....just to want them to pack their camels and get the hell out of here! Notice how the muslims are put out, how they now have no regard for the justice of American laws. I hear more and more distain for muslims and more vocal outcries of "close the mosques" "deport all muslims" and "execute all terrorists." The American Giant is awakening....run muslims run!
Posted by: Truthseeker at September 2, 2006 2:49 AM
Let's see if Al-Turki and wife actually serve time in the slam, or are hustled back to Saudi al la the Bin Laden family. In the name of diplomacy and maintaining good relations with our staunch ally int the Global war on Terror, of course.
Posted by: MontyRockIV at September 2, 2006 4:04 AM
ISlam still has slaves. After all, if their "perfect man" Mohammed (Pigs Be Upon Him) had slaves, it must be ok to own slaves, right? American law trumps sharia! I love it! Maybe in jail this devout muslim will get a taste of what it is like to be somebody's bitch. One can only hope.
Posted by: Bohemond_1069 at September 2, 2006 3:47 PM
And lets hope this scumbag spends every day of those 27 years breaking rocks, and discovers what its like to be enslaved.
Posted by: Spirit Of 1683 at September 2, 2006 4:23 PM
I once dated an oxymoron; but anyway, isn't "saudi national human rights society" an oxymoron?
Posted by: mustang65 at September 4, 2006 12:19 PM
I think we (citizens of the United States of America) should point out to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that there are many, many laws in the KSA under which foreigners (including our citizens) have been prosecuted entirely because of "cultural differences" - laws forbidding the consumption of alcohol, use of cell phones during prayer time, women driving cars, possession of any religious paraphernalia except that which conforms to Wahhabi Muslim practices... and that the KSA shouldn't come to us about this pervert kidnapper until they have stopped prosecuting visitors in their own country for nonviolent "offenses" which consist entirely of "cultural differences."
Posted by: coonass at September 4, 2006 6:42 PM
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