Indonesian maid falls to death while trying to escape employer

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 10/04/2008 3:19 PM  |  National

An Indonesian working for an Egyptian family was found dead outside of an apartment building in Nasr City, Cairo, last Monday.

Suwin Satimah binti Takhiyat reportedly died after falling from her employer's apartment located on the 8th floor, Indonesian Embassy spokesman Danang Waskito said in a release made available to The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The Cirebon native, said to have been working in Cairo for five months, is thought to have fallen to her death while trying to escape the building by using a makeshift rope out of bed sheets.

Danang added that a suitcase containing clothes belonging to deceased was found next to the body.

He said the body was taken to Cairo's Forensic Hospital and the local authorities were cooperating with the embassy in investigating the case.

The employer, an official at an Egyptian ministry, was reportedly away on holiday when the incident occurred. (amr)
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Rymash (not verified) — Sat, 10/11/2008 - 5:48am

Let's come back to the case and ask why Indonesian have to go abroad to work ?
Why Singapore, Hong Kong, etc have law to regulate the housemaid employment, set the minimum wages, why our government can't ?
I think the rootcause is with our government who never think and act to protect its own people. If there is a regulation to set the minimum wages for housemaids, protecting the right of the maids and the employers, thing should have been better, our people can find job in their own country and we can be proud as Indonesian.

SR Bambang (not verified) — Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:22pm

I have seen the plight of helpless indonesian maids from closed quarters. The depressing financial condition at their home forces these ladies to opt in hostile countries. It is time for law makers to create some avenues of employment and also work towards methods of population control without which the best employment schemes would fail.

Iain (not verified) — Thu, 10/09/2008 - 11:15pm

Lynda, I agree... these should be about the facts, and they should stick to the issue at hand.

It was the earlier comments that linked religion with the actions of the employer. Then there was the defense to promote Islam as peaceful and loving... something which is I think is open for debate.

Actually, I don't know if the comments about Mohammed marrying a 9 year old were influenced by the Jewel of Medina, but it doesn't make it un-true. You can refer to the Haddiths, and especially Aisha's Haddith where she describes her experiences of being married at 6 and then it being consumated at 9. I can provide links for you if you wish to look into it further.

Orchidea (not verified) — Thu, 10/09/2008 - 7:04pm

sorry...i cant help myself to point my finger at Stephany. she was the one who started the religion issue.

just do your way and the rest will do their way and everything will be just all right.

thanks to: Lynda for putting back all pn the track.

Cheers!

Lynda (not verified) — Thu, 10/09/2008 - 8:38am

Whoa! I'm dumbfounded to see how some people quickly turned the discussion into religion (the funniest was the guy who readily threw argument of Prophet Mohammed marrying a child bride, presumably influenced by the upcoming 'Jewel of Medina' fiction book which would only be released in 5 days).

Focus and get our facts straight. Tragic abuse towards Indonesian migrant workers has unfortunately happened numerous times before and across different countries (e.g. Malaysia, Singapore, HK, New York-USA), with employers of various ethnicities & religions (e.g. Chinese, Indians, Malays, and yes Arabs).

Let's discuss about how to increase domestic employement (so Indonesians wouldn't have to travel overseas for good jobs), improve education & skills quality (so Indonesian workers can move up to non-menial jobs overseas & leverage their bargaining power vs. employers), and to strengthen our govt's position when inking labor 'exporting' deal with other countries.

Ardianto (not verified) — Thu, 10/09/2008 - 12:48am

@ Ketti

How about your prophet Mohamed who married a 9 year old girl? Isn't that a great example for all the other muslims? Depressuring women in general, as "men are above women"....causing i.e.. lots of Iranian girls and women to burn themselves and make themselves unattractive to their abusive husbands so they will be left and get some rest (although in pain) ?? All referring to your so-beloved hadits?

Gordie (not verified) — Wed, 10/08/2008 - 9:52pm

Hey, STOP sticking the religion in all this. Maids are dying, being sexually abused, verbally abused, financially abused. NOT because of religion BUT because people think that the maids are 'lower' than them and cheap. It's about the exploitation of people and it happens in Muslim, Christian and Hindu countries.
Leave religion out of it and think of these poor women and help to get them rights.
They are supporting a whole family in Indonesia, working for wealthy people who have money that think they are better. Not true, just disgusting.
Push your government to seek better protection and once again leave religion out of it.

Ketti (not verified) — Wed, 10/08/2008 - 12:04pm

Basically, all religions teach and guide us to the good ways of our life including giving loving care and respecting to each other. Understanding the Islam teachings is not as simple as Lain thinks, especially the matters of sex-slaves because it links to the history of development of Islam religion. I suggest Lain to study and understand Islam teachings first in serious before debuting others'opinion. Understanding Al Qur'an and hadists should study all parts of them that have link to each other. For example, Moslem should pray 5 times a day. The Allah's commandment to pray is mentioned in Al Qur'an and then, It's rule which mentions 5 times a day practice describes in detail in the Hadist. Curiousity is the best guidance to knowing better something new.

Iain (not verified) — Wed, 10/08/2008 - 9:50am

OK,... so I am happy you've read it... then you will be well aware of the passages that encourage and condone violence in the name of Islam. You'll also be well aware that after a victorious battle (in the name of God of course), that the victors must not kill the women and pre-pubecent children... but instead be allowed to have them a sex slaves.

So, you are well aware that those passages exist? Do you need me to forward you links? These are not passages that have been "misunderstood in translation".

And as you also claim to have read the Bible, can you please direct me to the New Testament where it has similar passages as mentioned above with the Quran?

I know there are good muslims. And I know you know there are bad muslims. But this debate developed over comments where one said that the teachings of Islam created bad muslims, and another responded by saying Christianity is just as bad.

Yes, there are bad Christians, and history is littered with them, but Christians are different to Chritianity, and Muslims are different to Islam. The comments were blaming Islam for the actions of Muslims. So... defend Islam on merit. Don't just say someone else is as bad as us as a defense of Islam.

Siti (not verified) — Tue, 10/07/2008 - 6:52pm

Excuse me Ian but I have read Quran and Bible in Indonesian and English. I don't like when people like Jon and Stephanie blaming on Islam because the misconduct from a small group of people. As it is for you, you can't understand Islam just by reading the Quran and make judgment. I always hear Muslim being demonized by the Western media and society. They don't highlight good Muslims, only the bad ones.

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