Become a TKW abroad? Listen to the story of Siti Zainab

Inna lillahi wa inailahi rojiun, on Tuesday, April 14 2015 at 10 am local time, TKW Siti Zaenab Bt passed away. Duhri, 47 years old. The notice of execution was received by the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah from lawyer Khudran Al Zahrani. Here’s a little story about Siti Zaenab’s life journey that I have summarized from various internet news sources: On March 7, 1998, Siti Zaenab, a TKW from Bangkalan, Madura, East Java, who was born in 1968, left for Saudi Arabia to try her luck working as a Domestic Worker (PRT) with her employer named Abdullah Muhsin AlAhmadi. In 1999, Siti Zainab was convicted for the murder of the wife of her service user, Nourah Bt. Abdullah Duhem Al Maruba. He was then detained in the Medina Public Prison since October 5, 1999. Siti Zainab said that he killed because he had been tortured. Prior to his arrest, he had sent two letters in which he said that his employer and his employer’s son had been cruel to him. After going through a series of legal processes, on January 8, 2001, the Medina Court sentenced Siti Zainab to death or qishash on charges of murdering her female employer, Nauroh Bt Abdullah. With the fall of the qishas decision, forgiveness can only be given by the heirs of the victim. However, the execution of the sentence was postponed to wait for Walid bin Abdullah bin Muhsin Al Ahmadi, the victim’s youngest son, to reach puberty. In 2013, Walid refused to apologize and continued to demand the death penalty. He was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison, from October 5, 1999 – April 13, 2015. A number of diplomatic efforts have been made by the Indonesian government, including through letters to the King of Saudi Arabia sent by three Indonesian Presidents, starting with the late Abdurrahman Wahid in 2000, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2011 and Joko Widodo in 2015. Additional information:

1. Siti Zaenab was not accompanied by a legal advisor in the trial process

She had no legal representation at any stage and did not have access to a consular representative during the police interrogation when she had made her “confession”. According to reports, the police suspected that she suffered from mental illness at the time of the interrogation. Translation: He had no legal representation at any stage and had no access to consular representation during police interrogation when he had made his “confession”. According to reports, the police suspected that he was suffering from mental illness at the time of questioning. source: amnesty.org

2. Details of the attack carried out by Siti Zaenab

Sitti Zainab Rouba was found guilty by the General Court here of stabbing Norah bint Abdullah Al-Maroubi to death with a knife in September 1999. The court also found that she had struck Al-Maroubi on the head with a water heater, poured hot water on her, and sprayed insecticide on her face. Rouba then placed the body in a bag and dragged it into a bathroom. Translation: Sitti Zainab Rouba was found guilty by the General Court of stabbing Norah bint Abdullah Al-Marouni to death with a knife in September 1999. The court also found that he had hit Al-Marouni on the head with a water heater, poured hot water on him, and sprayed insecticide on his face. Rouba then placed the victim’s body into a bag and dragged her to the bathroom. source: arabnews.com The following lessons can be taken from the story of TKW Siti Zaenab:

1. Remember the saying “Different fields, Different weeds” or “Where the earth is stepped on, there the sky is upheld”

The meaning of the two similar sayings above is to respect the rules, customs and habits wherever you are. Because all of that must be different from one place to another. For those who want to try their luck in other countries, learn the applicable laws, and remember that the threat of murder in Arab countries is the death penalty because it adheres to the “Eye for an Eye” legal system, which means that every action that injures another person will be rewarded with the same action. Always remember to guard yourself against any crime, and be an exemplary worker. The slightest crime can send you back to your home country, the latest case: an Indian manager who works in Dubai is imprisoned and after that will be sent back to his home country just because he kissed the hand of his employee. source: thenational.ae

2. TKW who work as helpers are very risky and prone to violence

This is because the work environment of TKW is only limited to the employer’s house, most of the TKW do not know other areas and it is possible that they do not know the representative office of the Indonesian Embassy, ​​and only know the area around the employer’s house. To the author’s knowledge, the average house in an Arab country is quite large, not to mention the addition of a wall fence. The employer automatically controls the TKW, if lucky TKW gets a good employer, for example recently there was a TKW from Indonesia who was given cellphones and gold by employers in Saudi Arabia and spread on youtube. However, if the employer is good, the employer’s children or the employer’s relatives are not necessarily good either. If you are unlucky and find an abusive employer, you are more likely to experience violence. And this violence can take place every day, because those who work abroad are usually contracted and have vacation time only once a year. If you want to work as a TKW and find an unfriendly employer and experience violence, it is advisable not to commit a criminal act unless you have to, and choose whether to continue the contract with the risk of continued violence or contact the embassy to resolve your problem, or the third option: blurry.

3. Often Indonesian TKWs are sent without training and do not understand English

Based on information from a relative who is studying in an Arab country, a teaching lecturer once complained about an employee from Indonesia, who could not speak English, and that every job he was asked to do could not be completed because of language barriers. From the employer’s side, they have spent a lot of money to bring in one maid. example for workers from Vietnam: SR21,000, India SR18,000, Sri Lanka SR16,000 and Filipino SR14,000 at an exchange rate of 1 SR (Saudi Riyal) 3427.86 rupiah, for Indonesian workers the cost is approximately the same. source :arabnews.com Lack of skills can be one of the causes of TKW experiencing torture. For those who want to work abroad but cannot speak English, at least take a course first.

4. Uneducated workers are more likely to commit crimes than educated workers abroad

Often we hear that the cases are mostly Indonesian TKWs, we rarely hear of professional workers involved in criminal matters. Based on information from friends who work in the Ministry of Justice and also the Department of Population in an Arab country, the average cases occur in uneducated workers or TKW ranging from murder, committing immoral acts, running away from work, and so on. Even though Indonesia has officially stopped sending TKW, TKW can still be sent through an employment agency. Environmental conditions as described above such as: the limited environment of TKW workers, lack of entertainment, and pressure from employers are the reasons for uneducated workers to take wrong steps. source: https://internasional.kompas.com/read/2015/04/14/22375771/Seorang.TKW.Dieksekusi.di.Madinah