Skip to main content

14 Indonesians on death row seek clemency


The Indonesian government has stepped up efforts to save the lives of 14 of its citizens who are on death row in Saudi Arabia for being convicted of involvement in a range of criminal cases, including murder."Our missions in Riyadh and Jeddah will provide legal assistance to these people and help them get a royal pardon or their sentences commuted," said an Indonesian diplomat while reacting to a recent report on the cases. He refused to divulge more details about the cases. The report said the Indonesian government had managed to persuade the Saudi side to delay executions, citing appeals for clemency to some of the victims' families.


"We are intensifying our personal approach to family members of the victims," said the diplomat. The Indonesian side has already requested the Saudi government to grant royal clemency in some individual cases, but the host government has not responded so far, said another report obtained by Arab News yesterday.The report added that the Kingdom deported 24,020 Indonesians without valid work permits in 2008. Most of them were employed as housemaids.Between January and September last year, around 18,000 Indonesians working illegally in the Kingdom were deported. These workers lacked the necessary legal documents and had violated the terms of their visas, according to the Indonesian Embassy.Most of them entered the Kingdom using Umrah visas but stayed to work, while others had work visas that had expired. The report said more than 20,000 Indonesian workers are deported from Saudi Arabia each year.Some of 14 workers who are seeking pardon from the Saudi government were found guilty many years ago.


Siti Zainab was sentenced to death several years ago for killing her employer. The Indonesian Embassy has repeatedly approached her victim's family to secure a pardon for her. "The Indonesian president has written to the Saudi government twice about her case," said the report.The report claimed that some of these workers committed murders while acting in self-defense.Others have been handed death sentences for killing compatriots. Last year, the Indonesian Embassy succeeded in postponing the execution of six workers.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If Soeharto became National Hero

Three short years after his death, Indonesia's dictator Suharto has been   nominated to a shortlist to be designated a "National Hero." The final decision   rests with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. and any honors will likely be   announced on November 10, Heroes’ Day. President Obama is scheduled to visit  Indonesia around that date.  After Suharto died in January 2008, Indonesia's former dictator General Suharto   has died in bed and not in jail, escaping justice for his numerous crimes in   East Timor and throughout the Indonesian archipelago. One of the worst mass   murderers of the 20th century, his death tolls still shock... We cannot forget that the United States government consistently supported   Suharto and his regime. As the corpses piled up after his coup and darkness   descended on Indonesia, his cheerleaders in the U.S. welcomed the "gleam of   light in Asia." In the pursuit of realpolitik, U.S. administration a...
2 comments
Read more

MUI Says Al-Qiyadah Al-Islamiyah is Misleading

The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) said Al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah, which first appeared in 2000, is a misleading sect. The decision was taken after MUI researched the organization for the last three months."Up to 2006, this sect wasn't brave enough to appear. But starting in 2007, they bluntly spread their lessons to the public," MUI Chairman, K.H. Ma'ruf, told the press yesterday (4/10). For a sect that is only seven years old, he viewed, its progress is rapid. The structure is in order and the leaders easily attract public sympathy. Al-Qiyadah's leader, Ahmad Moshaddeq, whose real name is Haji Salam, said he was an apostle since July 23, 2007 after ascetic meditation for 40 days and nights in Bunder Mount, Bogor, West Java. "They even changed Islam to existing apostle or prophet after Muhammad, that is Masih Al-Mau'ud," said Ma'ruf.For gaining devotees, according to Ma'ruf, Ahmad promised rewards of a motorcycle for those who can recruit 40 ...
1 comment
Read more

Blasphemy in the name of religion

The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to bring the attention of the Human Rights Council (HRC) to violations of the right to the freedom of expression and opinion that are being engendered through the use of Indonesia’s legal provisions prohibiting blasphemy. Religious blasphemy is prohibited in Indonesia under Law No. 1/PNPS/1965, with such provisions also being later adopted within the Penal Code (KUHP) under Article 156a. Paragraph (a) of this article uses vague language, which opens the door to abusive uses of this provision, to prohibit any acts and expression of views considered to be blasphemous, and carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment. A similar maximum punishment is also carried by paragraph (b) of the article, which prohibits any acts and expression of views calling for others to embrace atheism. Alexander Aan is an atheist currently undergoing a trial at the Muaro Sijunjung District Court, West Sumatra. According to his lawyers from ...
Post a Comment
Read more