Indonesian woman Satinah Binti Jumadi Ahmad is on death row for killing her employer in Saudi Arabia. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
Indonesia would pay the “blood money” to have one of its own citizens freed from the Saudi Arabian executioner, but is adamant in sending two Australians to the firing squad, says the family of an Indonesian domestic worker on death row in Saudi.
Satinah Binti Jumad Ahmad, 41, an Indonesian domestic worker, got the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for robbing and murdering her employer’s life, but the Indonesian government has been vying for her life, reports the Guardian.
The government reportedly sent USD1.9 million in legally recognized “blood money” requested by the victim’s family, since under sharia law in Saudi Arabia, the victim’s family can be paid off to avoid execution. Hmm, maybe that’s where all our #bbmnaik money went.
But the Indonesian government didn’t stop there. It also reportedly formally appealed to the late King Abdullah to pardon Ahmad.
While Ahmad’s brother Paeri al-Feri, 44, is grateful his sister was spared, he’s calling out the government for being hypocritical.
“On the one hand, Indonesia is begging for its citizens to escape the death penalty, meanwhile Indonesia’s firing squad executes inmates, it’s not fair,” said al-Feri, as quoted by the Guardian. “How can you plead for a lighter sentence or even freedom from other countries if the death penalty still exists in Indonesia?”
Al-Feri says he empathizes with the families of Bali Nine Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the two Australian men slated to be executed soon.
“It breaks your heart, crying inside, constantly and desperately figuring out how to help her out. And the two [Australians] must have families, and their families must feel the same,” he said. “We should ask ourselves if we have a family member facing the death penalty, how would you feel? It’s hard.”
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been resolved to buckle down on drugs cases, insisting that the 64 offenders on death row will be executed this year.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s foreign minister Retno Marsudi has vowed to fight more 229 Indonesian nationals on death row abroad, reports the Guardian.
