“And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save those (captives) whom your right hands possess” — that is, slave girls. That’s the Qur’an, An-Nisa 24, sura 4:24.
From the Khaleej Times, with thanks to Kaosktrl:
AURORA (Colorado) “” The trial has started of a Saudi Arabian man accused of keeping a young housemaid as a “˜slave”, whom he subdued using rape and other forms of intimidation.
Homaidan Ali Al Turki, 37, is a university educated linguist who arrived in the US in 2000 along with his wife, Sarah Khonaizan, and their four children. But, according to an FBI criminal complaint, the couple kept their Indonesian housemaid, now in her 20s, enslaved by creating “˜a climate of fear and intimidation through rape and other means.’
The housemaid slept on a mattress on the floor of the basement in the couple’s home in an upscale suburb of Denver, Colorado and, prosecutors allege, over the four years of her captivity was repeatedly raped by Al Turki. The woman was paid just $2 a day for the housework and child care she performed and according to the FBI document, feared that if she did not obey the Al-Turkis she would “˜suffer serious harm”.
The alleged abuse came to light after the maid was arrested along with the Al Turkis in November 2004 due to an expired visa. After her arrest, the maid told investigators of her plight. Al Turki, who by then was running an Arabic language publishing business called Al Basheer Publications and Translations, was arrested by federal agents and charged with forced labour, domestic servitude and harbouring an illegal immigrant.
The state of Colorado separately charged him with two counts of kidnapping, 12 counts of sexual assault, extortion, theft and false imprisonment. He faces life in prison if convicted. Al Turki denies the charges….
Meanwhile, all this is because of a wicked Islamophobic misunderstanding of Islam and Arab culture:
The case has sparked fierce debate in the U.S. with many Arab and Muslim groups branding the case a witchhunt based on a misunderstanding of Arab custom and culture and, prejudice following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Those feeling intensified when it was revealed Denver’s Joint Terrorism Task Force had Al-Turki under investigation, suspecting he was “closely aligned to terrorists and may be providing material support to terrorism”.
In an interview with a Denver television station, Al Turki said there was “˜no doubt” he was innocent. His lawyers have filed documents in his defence stating “there are Saudi Arabian customs regarding a host family”s retention of funds for their domestic servant until she leaves their service.” This, they say, explains why the housemaid was apparently paid so little.
If that’s a Saudi Arabian custom, the American response should be the same as that of Charles James Napier, British Commander-In-Chief in India in the 19th century, when an Indian told him that sati was an Indian custom: “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.”
But Al-Turki is, consistent with what regular Jihad Watch readers will recognize as being common practice, disclaiming any responsibility whatsoever and claiming discrimination:
“This is very sad, but we Muslims basically after 9/11, have been profiled,” Al Turki told Denver’s CBS4 station. “And everything that is happening to us or every single Muslim in the community basically because we are guilty, no matter what.”
Yes, every single Muslim in the U.S. is currently on trial for keeping a housemaid as a sex slave. Sure.
Supporters have created several websites in support of Al Turki, who is a prominent member of Colorado’s Saudi community, and ensure that the court is packed with supporters for every hearing.
A few comments from Homaidan Al-Turki’s Internet guestbook. This one is from here:
i am the daughter of homaidan al-turki and i make dua [prayers] for the best dada in the world.
her is what i realy feel about this;
my life with out a dad……
i feel bad whaen my dad is not around. i miss him so much.WHY just tell me WHY are they blaming my dad.
it is realy bad with out a dad. my life is bad first they took my dad then freed him the n took my mom and my dad then freed my mom on tuesday. theres nothing fun with out parents they took my familys passports they took evrey thing that we had and left us some money,food,and drinks thats allwhat rood people are they very meanmy life is round by them. i hate them. WHY my familyjust tell me WHY. who ever wants to come her dont they will do the same to your family and make up some problems about your family. WHY WHY WHY WHY MY FAMILY…….
BY;NORAH AL-TURKI
Why your dad? Why your family? Well, see, we don’t have slavery in the United States. Yes, people can get quite mean about it, but you have to understand that your father needs to take responsibility for being so mean himself to the housemaid.
Other comments — all without a trace of acknowledgment that Homaidan Al-Turki might possibly have done something wrong:
59. Maha – 2005-06-24 13:44:43
Lot of human rights viloation occur in USA ,especially against Arab & Muslims.
May God free Mr.Humaidan soon inshallah.56. Fahad – 2005-06-24 13:25:36
Where is the American justices???????55. umsalih – 2005-06-24 12:59:22
we were shocked upon hearing this unjust news which is happening continueously to our fellow muslim brothers in the us but we want you to know that our hearts and prayers are with all of you and Allah will never abandon His worshipers-so pray and pray.53. mohhamed – 2005-06-24 12:24:24
I think this case isn’t need to aressted the man and harm him .and I think the juistic was absent frome u.s.A and the important thing is tack the mony from his family.I am ask the Gid tohelp you .
51. Abdulhamid – 2005-06-24 12:17:05
Man, I know this is american style, we got used to it.I always said ” don’t go to US and UK, go to Asia”
Allah bless this guy and his family
50. saudi3ever – 2005-06-24 10:27:15
May the god be with him