http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=61162&d=28&m=3&y=2005
Monday, 28, March, 2005 (17, Safar, 1426) Human Rights Group Probes Maid Torture Case Hassan Adawi, Arab News Nour Miyati JEDDAH, 28 March 2005 - As the Indonesian government awaits the application of Saudi justice, the National Society for Human Rights has intervened on behalf of a guest worker who was brutalized and tortured by her employer. Indonesian maid Nour Miyati is currently undergoing intensive medical treatment to prepare her for multiple amputations of gangrenous fingers and toes after being tied up, beaten and imprisoned in a bathroom for a month. Dr. Lubna Al-Ansari, a member of the human rights society, told Arab News that fellow members, Suraya Abid Sheikh and Noura Al-Jumaih, had visited Miyati at the hospital and were following up on her case. They submitted a report to Dr. Rashed Al-Mubarak, the society's president in Riyadh, yesterday morning. The report included inquiries about the status of the accused - whether he was imprisoned - and the woman's fate after the surgeries. Suraya Abid Sheikh said they contacted police investigating the case. The accused, the sponsor, has denied any connection with what had happened to Miyati, claiming the maid was bitten by an insect. "It seems he's naive because forensic specialists have proven that she's been subjected to torture," said Suraya Abid Sheikh. She confirmed that it is the woman's right to be compensated for the damages inflicted upon her and that the sponsor would not escape punishment. The 25-year-old woman will be returning to her country with permanent disabilities. Suraya Abid Sheikh said all observations related to laborers will be submitted to appropriate government sectors, adding that a large number of maids contact the society after running away from their sponsors. She added that this was the first "maid case" the society is dealing with in the Kingdom. She said the society is not dealing with the case as an individual (personal) case but that it is an issue that concerns and affects the entire community. The society's tenets hold that no person, native or foreign, should be subjected to torture whatsoever. The human rights society members have requested Miyati's medical file to follow up the case. The association is ready to provide cooperating lawyers to pursue the case if the police do not follow through. M. Sukiarto, labor attache at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, told Arab News that his nation's diplomatic mission is following the case as closely as Saudi police. "After the hospital report, she will undergo operations. Then the case will be looked into," Sukiarto said. "If there is no development in the case, the embassy will appoint a lawyer to represent the maid so that she may receive her financial rights and dues as well as her moral rights." The Indonesian government remains concerned by this horrific incident. "Over the past years, sponsor problems had lessened; however, during the last three years, the problems have begun to increase with maids," Sukiarto said. "This incident is the first of its kind in the Kingdom with a sponsor so cruelly inflicting punishment." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn. Bring education to life by funding a specific classroom project. http://us.click.yahoo.com/4F6XtA/_WnJAA/E2hLAA/BRUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppi-india.org *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/