Kidnapper and Rapist Claims Discrimination Against Islam

Saudi man convicted of sex abuse
By Jeremy P. Meyer
Denver Post Staff Writer

Arapahoe County - An Indonesian woman wept and plugged fingers into her ears to shield the sounds of wailing family and friends of the man found guilty Friday afternoon of sexual abuse.

Homaidan Al-Turki, 37, of Saudi Arabia, who lives in Aurora, was initially charged with kidnapping and sexual assault. But after a day of deliberation, the jury convicted Al-Turki on reduced charges of false imprisonment and unlawful sexual contact, as well as the original charges of theft and criminal extortion.

Al-Turki, a linguistics doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado at Boulder, now faces up to life in prison at his sentencing Aug. 31.

Authorities say for four years Al-Turki kept the 24-year-old Indonesian woman as a slave in the family home, forcing her to cook and clean and take care of the family and their five children with little pay. Prosecutors say Al-Turki eventually intimidated the woman into sex acts that culminated in her rape in late 2004.

The defense said many of the allegations were simply misconstrued cultural differences, or what attorney John Richilano called "cynical Islamaphobia."

The 2 1/2-week trial ended in drama in the courtroom, with as many as nine sheriff's deputies trying to keep peace while Al-Turki's supporters howled at the verdict that was delivered after a day of deliberation.

One man was forcibly removed

Cynical Islamaphobia? Sure, who are we to enforce our laws and customs on this Muslim man? Allah has no restrictions on men for forcing women to be sex slaves. In fact if one is a good Muslim, that will be his reward in heaven.