India Protests to Saudi Arabia After Indian Maid's Arm is Severed

On Friday, October 8, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs urged the Saudi government to firmly enforce justice regarding a Saudi citizen accused of severing the arm of an Indian maid. According to Reuters, the family of 58-year-old Kasturi Moinratinam claims she told them that after complaining about abuse during the three months she worked for the family, her employer cut off one of her arms. Television reports broadcast images of the maid, who is from Tamil Nadu in southern India, in a hospital bed in Riyadh. In the images, it can be seen that her right arm has been severed and her shoulder is bandaged. Sushma Swaraj, the Indian Foreign Minister, tweeted: 'We are deeply disturbed by the violent and brutal treatment of this Indian woman in Saudi Arabia. This behavior is unacceptable, and we have raised this issue with Saudi officials.' A spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs also stated that embassy staff in Riyadh visited the woman in the hospital, and her physical condition appears to be under control. The Indian embassy has requested the Saudi police to file a case against the employer of the maid for attempted murder. The spokesperson added: 'The responsible individual must bear all medical expenses for the victim. The head of the Riyadh police has assured us that a swift investigation will be conducted in this case. We will pursue this matter at all administrative and responsible levels in Saudi Arabia and demand swift justice for this woman.' Reuters reminds that last month, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs faced severe criticism from women's rights groups in India after it was revealed that a Saudi diplomat left India without any punishment after months of torture and rape of two Nepali maids in his home on the outskirts of Delhi. The two Nepali maids reported to Indian police that they were gang-raped, tortured, and deprived of food during the three months they were held captive in that house. The women stated that in one instance, eight men raped them simultaneously. Medical examinations confirmed signs of rape on the two women. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not take any legal action against Majid Hassan Ashour, a senior staff member of the Saudi embassy in Delhi, citing diplomatic immunity under the Geneva Convention, and this individual left India without any issues.