REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regretted the execution of Indonesian migrant worker Tuti Tursilawati in Saudi Arabia. The execution was carried out on Monday (Oct 29) without the prior notification to Republic Indonesia Consulate General in the country.
“We regret it was done without notification,” said Jokowi on Wednesday (Oct 31).
Tuti was executed by Saudi Arabia Government, as punishment over the case of premeditated murder of her employer’s father in 2010. According to Saudi criminal law, the act is punishable by had ghillah (absolute death).
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Saudi Arabia is a country that does not adhere the obligation to give a notification to the family or the government of the death penalty convicts. However, the notice is considered important to prepare the family of the convicted person.
“I get information that our Indonesian worker, Mrs Tuti was executed on Oct 29, and as previous case it was carried out without prior notification to Indonesia Consulate General,” Jokowi explained.
Based on Migrant CARE advocacy group data, at least there were five Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia executed without official notification to government. They were Zaini Misrin, Yanti Irianti, Ruyati, Siti Zaenab, and Karni.
“We have called Saudi Arabia Foreign Affairs Minister to protest about the execution. Last week, I also conveyed it, as well as the protection for Indonesian workers there,” Jokowi said.
According to Jokowi, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi has met with Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister. She also summoned Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Indonesia, Osama Mohammed Al-Shuaibi to protest and express disapproval on the execution.
“I have ordered Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide facilities for Mrs Tuti family to go there three times,” Jokowi said.
Jokowi admitted has conveyed his objection over the case many times to King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman Al Saudi, and Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Adel Al Jubeir. He stressed the political effort have been done.
Tuti was sentenced to death in 2011 on charges of premeditated murder of her employer's father, Suud Mulhak al-Utaibi in 2010. According to information obtained from her mother, who had met Tuti in Saudi Arabia in April this year, Tuti committed murder because she was harrassed by her employer's father.
Indonesia Government has continued to make efforts to alleviate punishment by consular assistance since 2011, three times the appointment of lawyers, three times an appeal. In addition, judicial review has also submitted for two times and a letter to Saudi Arabia king has been sent.
However, all those efforts cannot alleviate the sentence imposed on Tuti. Currently, there are 20 Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia who face death penally in which two of them have permanent legal force.
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