VZCZCXRO6071
OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHRH #7097/01 2531129
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 101129Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1350
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZJ/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 7695
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0109
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 007097 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (BSHUKAN, RJACHIM, SWALKER), DRL/NESCA 
(OZKAN), INL/HSTC, G/TIP (PATEL, TAYLOR) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2016 
TAGS: AORC ELAB FBI KCRM PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI REACTION TO SENTENCING OF HOMAIDAN AL-TURKI 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (S/NF)  The August 31, 2006, sentencing by a Colorado 
court of Homaidan Al-Turki to 28 years to life imprisonment 
for sexually assaulting his Indonesian maid has provoked 
calls for a boycott of U.S. products and the return of Saudis 
studying in the U.S.  Some Saudi contacts even fear that this 
anger could encourage acts against Americans both inside and 
outside the U.S., including terrorist actions.  Saudis in the 
U.S. and in the KSA agree with Homaidan's claim that he 
received an unfair trial that focused on his religion and 
reflected U.S. prejudice against Saudis, Arabs, and Muslims 
in general. The press reports that even SAG officials have 
called the sentence imposed on Homaidan "harsh" and vowed to 
take the case to the "highest levels," presumably to reduce 
the punishment.  However, there has been little, if any 
attention on the victim.  Resentment of the U.S. could 
increase when Homaidan faces a federal trial in October or if 
his appeal of the August 31 sentence is unsuccessful.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU)  Homaidan Al-Turki and his wife Sarah Khonaizan were 
arrested in November 2004 and then again in 2006, first for 
immigration violations, then for mistreatment of their 
illiterate 24 year-old, Muslim Indonesian maid.  Homaidan was 
also charged with sexually assaulting the maid.  On August 
31, Homaidan was sentenced to 28 years to life imprisonment 
by the Arapahoe County (Colorado) District Court after being 
convicted of three felonies and three misdemeanors.  It is 
reported that he is appealing this conviction.  Sarah pleaded 
guilty to federal immigration charges and a Colorado state 
charge of theft for which she was sentenced to home 
confinement, 48 hours of community service, five years 
probation, and two months in jail.  According to press 
reports, she is expected to be deported to Saudi Arabia 
before the end of September 2006 upon completion of her jail 
time. 
 
--------------- 
SAUDI REACTIONS 
--------------- 
 
¶3. (C)  In general, there have been two types of reactions by 
Saudis both inside the KSA and in the U.S.:  religious 
hard-liners are calling for a boycott of U.S. products, the 
return of Saudi students currently studying in the U.S., and 
the cessation of future scholarships to the U.S.  Moderates 
and liberals are citing the treatment of Homaidan Al-Turki as 
an isolated case that calls for increased communication and 
understanding on all sides.  Very few Saudis believe that 
Homaidan Al-Turki sexually assaulted, much less raped, his 
Indonesian maid.  Instead, they tend to agree with the claim 
by one of Homaidan's defense attorneys that the FBI induced 
the Indonesian maid to charge Homaidan with sexual assault 
and rape.  Saudis believe that the FBI's motive in doing this 
was because it had been unsuccessful in charging Homaidan 
with terrorism. 
 
¶4. (C)  On September 5, PolOff met with Khaled M. bin Taleb, 
who claimed to be a longtime, close friend of Homaidan. 
Taleb categorically refused to believe that Homaidan had 
sexually assaulted or raped the Indonesian maid because he 
knows Homaidan as a "devout and good person" who could "never 
sexually assault anyone."  He said that he personally knows, 
and that it is widely known by many Saudis in the U.S. and in 
the KSA, that Homaidan is a "good Muslim" who helps the 
unfortunate and needy.  Taleb said that he had last met 
Homaidan in person in 2003 at Homaidan's house in 
Springfield, Virginia.  Taleb said that "even if King 
Abdullah swore that Homaidan had sexually assaulted this 
 
RIYADH 00007097  002 OF 002 
 
 
Indonesian maid, no one would believe it."  Taleb stated that 
because it is simply inconceivable that a person like 
Homaidan could have committed sexual assault, many Saudis now 
feel that no Saudi is safe from the USG.  However, Taleb did 
believe that Homaidan and his wife Sarah had mistreated the 
maid by keeping her passport, failing to renew her passport 
and visa, not paying her salary, and perhaps beating her and 
restricting her freedom of movement. (NOTE: Such treatment of 
foreign domestic workers, as well as the lack of legal 
protections, continues to be problematic in the Kingdom and 
is highlighted in our annual Trafficking in Persons Report. 
END NOTE.) 
 
¶5. (S/NF)  Taleb claimed that many Saudis know Homaidan and 
are very disappointed by how the USG treated him.  He said 
that Saudis like Americans as people and U.S. culture, but 
have turned against the current Administration because of the 
treatment of Arabs and Muslims following September 11 -- 
especially Saudis studying and working in the U.S. -- the 
perception that the USG unconditionally supports the 
Government of Israel, the invasion of Iraq, and USG actions 
against the Palestinians and Lebanon.  While Taleb said that 
many Saudis are counting on the conviction being overturned 
on appeal, he expressed concern that, if this conviction 
stands, animosity toward the USG could be inflamed to the 
point of acts of violence, even terrorism, in the U.S. or 
against Americans in the KSA or elsewhere. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (C)  The Al-Turki case represents the latest cause celebre 
for radical Saudis claiming USG persecution of Muslims. 
Unfortunately, it appears that they have achieved some 
success in undermining efforts by the SAG and USG to bridge 
cultural differences and build mutual understanding. 
Al-Turki's friends, family, and colleagues are rallying 
around him, insisting that it is completely implausible that 
he could have committed such heinous acts -- despite his 
conviction in a court of law.  At the same time, this case 
shows just how far the Saudis still have to go when it comes 
to issues relating to trafficking in persons and the 
treatment of foreign domestic workers.  Even the general 
Saudi public, which does not know Homaidan personally, 
believes that the USG has mistreated him.  There has been 
little, if any, focus on the victim, who is a "non-person" at 
the bottom of the Saudi hierarchy.  One must wonder how 
different the general attitude toward Homaidan and his 
prosecution would be if the victim had been a Saudi woman 
instead of one of the "other women" who do not enjoy the 
protections afforded by the tribal/clan structure.  END 
COMMENT. 
OBERWETTER