Saudi legal system 'must be respected'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Amid public uproar over the recent execution of
\nan Indonesian maid in Saudi Arabia, scholars have been adamant
\nthat the Saudi legal system, which practices capital punishment,
\nmust be respected.<\/p>\n
Ali Yafie of the Indonesian Ulemas Council and former justice-
\nturned-preacher Bismar Siregar supported the Indonesian
\ngovernment's stance Saturday not to intervene in Saudi legal
\nprocedures.<\/p>\n
\"They have their own legal system and we must respect that,\"
\nAli said during a break at a seminar on capital punishment.<\/p>\n
Former justice Bismar concurred with Yafie but argued that the
\ngovernment could go through diplomatic channels to try and
\nlegally help the Indonesian maid facing a possible execution.<\/p>\n
\"The government must go all out and help defend Nasiroh and
\nother migrant workers,\" Bismar said.<\/p>\n
Just weeks after Indonesian maid Soleha Anam Kadiran was
\nbeheaded in Mecca, another maid, Nasiroh Karmudin, may face the
\nsame fate after being charged with murdering her employer.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said earlier last week
\nthat the government must not interfere with another's rule of law
\nif it demands the same respect of its own.<\/p>\n
But he maintained there was still a chance to free Nasiroh and
\npromised the government's full effort.<\/p>\n
Nasiroh, 24, can be saved from execution if the plaintiff
\npardons her or diyat (blood money) is accepted as compensation.<\/p>\n
The government, Alatas said, must establish an extradition
\nagreement with the Saudi government to anticipate a repeat of the
\nsituation in the future.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said it was time
\nto establish an extradition agreement since there had been many
\ncriminal cases involving Indonesian migrant workers.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, West Java, Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat said
\nSaturday the government had done its best defending Nasiroh by
\nasking Saudi Arabia to reconsider the death penalty.<\/p>\n
But, he said, it would be up to the authorities there to
\ndecide.<\/p>\n
Reports say the trial of Nasiroh has concluded and that the
\ncourt is still weighing its decision, a process which could take
\nup to three months.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, legal expert Muladi said Indonesian
\ndiplomats in Saudi Arabia must be resolute in monitoring the fate
\nof Indonesian migrant workers so such cases do not happen again.<\/p>\n
\"The diplomats' role is very important in this case,\" Muladi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
This recent case along with the current repatriation of 10,000
\nIndonesian workers in Saudi Arabia has prompted stronger calls
\nfor a stop to the exportation of workers.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights Munawir
\nSjadzali gave his support to the call to stop sending laborers
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
After giving a speech at the state-run Islamic College in
\nKartasura, Sukoharjo, Central Java, Munawir said there were far
\ntoo many reports of workers being abused abroad.<\/p>\n
Lacking sufficient legal protection, he said, Indonesian
\nworkers were in a weak position and helpless, being exploited by
\nthose who sought profit.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Indonesian workers awaiting
\nrepatriation were reportedly involved in a clash with Saudi
\npolice at the Indonesian Consular General's office in Jeddah on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Republika daily reported yesterday that three workers were
\nshot and a local policeman was injured after being struck by a
\nstone, while two police cars were torched.<\/p>\n
Fifty workers were reportedly detained.<\/p>\n
Officials at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh and in Jeddah,
\nwhen contacted yesterday, refused to comment on the incident.<\/p>\n
Officials at the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of
\nForeign Affairs' joint-command post here were also unavailable
\nfor comment.<\/p>\n
The daily said, quoting a source at the embassy, that the
\nincident started when hundreds of an estimated 7,000 Indonesians
\nsheltered at the consular's office provoked Saudi police guarding
\nthem. (10\/43\/har\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/saudi-legal-system-must-be-respected-1447893297",
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