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JEDDAH, 26 December 2005 — A Riyadh judge sentenced an Indonesian maid, who accused her sponsor and his wife of torturing her, to 79 lashes yesterday. “We have made our appeal to the court and we trust in the Saudi court system and have confidence in it,” said Nour Miyati’s lawyer, Nasser Al-Dandani, who was appointed to her by the Indonesian Embassy. In March, Miyati was brought to a hospital in Riyadh by her sponsor in a critical condition suffering from gangrene to her fingers, toes and a part of her right foot. Doctors had to remove some of her fingers and toes. At first Miyati claimed that her sponsor tied her up for a month in a bathroom and beat her severely injuring her eyes and knocking out several of her teeth. But Miyati later changed her testimony and was subsequently charged with making false accusations of torture against her sponsor. A judge later sentenced the sponsor’s wife, who admitted to beating Miyati, to 35 lashes. The husband was found innocent due to lack of evidence against him. The judge is yet to issue a decision on Miyati’s case against her sponsor for beating her. The sponsor will have to provide monetary compensation to the maid if the judge rules in her favor. In July, Saudi authorities imprisoned Miyati while she was still being treated at the Specialist Hospital in Riyadh for her wounds and amputations. Following complaints by her lawyer, Dandani, and the Indonesian Embassy, Miyati was released to the care of the Nahda Women’s Charity Society by orders of Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman. Officials at the Indonesian Embassy refused to elaborate or comment on the sentencing until a final decision is made. The embassy remains in contact with Miyati at her lawyer’s residence. “She is still in my house as a guest and receiving the medical treatment she needs,” Dandani said. |
