http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article20781.ece
Maid sentenced for mixing urine in food By ARAB NEWS Published: Feb 22, 2010 12:51 PM Updated: Feb 22, 2010 12:51 PM JEDDAH: A Jeddah court sentenced an Asian maid to 200 lashes and a year in prison after being found guilty of mixing her urine into the food of the family she works for. The maid's sponsor complained and accused her of performing black magic. The maid reportedly claimed she was getting back at the family for bad treatment. The woman did not appeal the verdict. ++++ http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article21030.ece Saudi women not working as maids in Qatar By ARAB NEWS Published: Feb 23, 2010 1:14 AM Updated: Feb 23, 2010 1:14 AM JEDDAH: The Qatari Embassy in Riyadh has denied Saudi women are working as maids in Qatar. It said any women from the Kingdom wishing to work in the Gulf country would have to go through the official channels. A source at the Saudi Embassy in Qatar has also denied the rumor, Al-Yaum daily reported. Rumors have been circulating online for the last two months that 30 Saudi women are working in Qatar as maids. Qatari citizens visiting Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province said they had never heard of them. They added it would be difficult for Saudis to come because in the first instance potential workers need sponsors in Qatar. In addition, women from Gulf countries are not accepted as maids according to social norms. "This is the first time that I have heard this. Families in Saudi Arabia and Qatar would not accept it under any condition," said Qatari citizen Musfir Al-Mari. Qatari journalist Sarah Abdullah said that there has been no coverage of the story in local media, which could only mean there were no Saudi maids in Qatar. "Saudi and Qatari women are sisters and the two peoples share family names and common interests." Saudi women in different forums have also expressed anger at the reports, adding that this was simply a way to humiliate Saudi women and spread rumors about them. Saudi lawyer Adnan Al-Salih said that maid jobs are not recognized according to laws governing Saudi women, although babysitters are. However, the term "maid" is mentioned in laws governing non-Saudi women. Al-Salih called for tighter regulations of female recruitment laws, adding that women should be consulted when implementing new regulations. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
