Indonesia condemns maid torture by Saudi Arabian employer

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday condemned on Indonesian maid torture by her employer in Saudi Arabia.

The government of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia had agreed for a heavy sentence to the employer, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said here Tuesday.

Sumiati binti Salan Mustapa of 23 years who worked in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, had been allegedly tortured by her employer. Her upper lip was cut, her middle finger is fractured, all over her bodies got burn injuries.

"I want law to be enforced and the diplomacy must be conducted in all-out," President Yudhoyono said at a cabinet meeting.

The president had ordered ministers to take immediate steps to settle the case.

"I have instructed foreign minister and labor minister to settle the case appropriately and quickly," said Yudhoyono.

Foreign Minister Natalegawa said that both government of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia had condemned the torture, the Saudi Arabian government had assured to bring the employer to justice.

"Our stance is similar, as the Indonesian government has condemned on the torture against Sumiati. It is also done by the government of Saudi Arabia. They give assurance there will be a legal process against the employer who had treated our citizen in inhumanity," Natalegawa told a joint press conference after the cabinet meeting.

Tens thousands of Indonesians work in the Middle East, Malaysia, South Korea and other countries and regions. Human rights abuse by employer has been frequently suffered by some of them.

Source: Xinhua