Activists protest execution of Indonesian maid in Saudi Arabia

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Tens of activists of non-governmental organization Migrant Care demonstrated outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy here on Monday in protest against the execution of Indonesian maid Yanti Irianti (35) in Saudi Arabia.

"Migrant Care condemns the execution and urges the Indonesian government to question the death sentence and the legal discrimination against the Indonesian domestic helper in Saudi Arabia," Executive Director of Migrant Care Anis Hidayah said.

Anis said that the Indonesian government could raise the case at the United Nations Human Rights Council, where Indonesia and Saudi Arabia were members.

Besides, the Indonesian government should also send a diplomatic note of protest to the Saudi government, recall its ambassador from Saudi Arabia and send the Saudi ambassador back to his country as a protest againt Yanti`s execution, Anis said.

The rally began at 10 a.m. and was joined by Yanti`s family members and legislator Jacobus Kamarlo Mayong Padang of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction.

They carried banners which read: "Stop Killing Indonesian Migrant Workers," and "Execution of the Indonesian Worker is a Violation of Human Rights."

Yanti Irianti was executed by a firing squad on Friday, Jan. 11, after the Saudi court found her guilty of murdering her employer. Official reports in Saudi Arabia said that Yanti murdered her employer in order to steal her jewelry.