Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Saudi slaveholder and Islamist book publisher Homaidan Al Turki faces life imprisonment in Denver - wife to be deported Saudi slaveholder and Islamist book publisher Homaidan Al Turki faces life imprisonment in Denver - wife to be deportedJuly 3, 2006 MIM: For more on the case see MIM and Dr. Daniel Pipe's blog "Slave holding and terror links in Colorado" July 1, 2006 update: Homaidan Ali Al-Turki's 2 ½-week trial ended on June30 with his conviction on state charges of false imprisonment, unlawful sexual contact, theft, and criminal extortion; faces up to life in prison. His sentencing takes place Aug. 31. The defense argued that many of the charges resulted from cultural differences or "cynical Islamophobia." Al-Turki faces federal charges in October of forced labor, document servitude and harboring an illegal immigrant. His wife, Sarah Khonaizan, reached plea agreements, may avoid a jail sentence or spend up to a year in jail, and has agreed then to be deported. Also of note were the atmospherics as the verdict was announced. Nine sheriff's deputies tried to keep the peace as about two dozen of Al-Turki's supporters "howled at the verdict that was delivered after a day of deliberation. One man was forcibly removed because of his loud sobbing. A woman collapsed at the courtroom door after seeing Al-Turki taken away in handcuffs." As for Al-Turki himslef, "wearing a white robe, at first showed little emotion - touching his left index finger to his nose - as Judge J. Mark Hannen read the verdicts. But after the jury left the courtroom, Al-Turki began to sob and hug his family and friends." During these histrionics, the Indonesian woman who had been enslaved and raped "wept and plugged fingers into her ears to shield the sounds of wailing family and friends." Right to the end, in other words, they managed to oppress her. http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/526
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