Mar 9, 2007 10:59 am US/Mountain
Muslim Media Attention On Al-Turki Case Remains
by Rick Sallinger
DENVER (CBS4) ―
The story of a man from Saudi Arabia convicted and sentenced for treating his Indonesian maid as a sex slave in Aurora has gained more attention in the Middle East and Muslim world. Last week, a television crew from Dubai was in Denver to do a story about the case.
Saudi TV also recently released video of Colorado Attorney General John Suthers trip to Saudi Arabia last year when he talked with King Abdullah about the reasons why Homaidan Al-Turki was sentenced to 28 years to life in prison.
Some American columnists and bloggers have criticized the trip as a display of American weakness. Suthers said the trip, which was paid for by the U.S. Department of State, was important to correct misunderstandings about the U.S. justice system.
"I wasn't there to apologize, I wasn't there to defend so much as to straighten out," Suthers said.
He explained to the King and other Saudis that Al-Turki chose not to testify, that he was involved in other incidents of sexual contact and that he does have a right to an appeal.
An article in the English language Arab News explained why there was outrage in Saudi Arabia.
"How could anyone take the word of a mere female (and a maid at that!), over the word of a supposedly religious, male Saudi," the article said.
Al-Turki denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was prosecuted because a terrorism investigation came up empty.
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