The Arab Times reported today about a horrific case of abuse of a Sri Lankan maid by her sponsors in Saudi Arabia. The maid, who returned to Sri Lanka and was hospitalized had 23 nails removed from her body as a testament to the severe abuse she suffered.
The 50-year-old maid, Ariyawathie, reported that she was forced to work around the clock for the many occupants of the house and whenever she would get tired and asked for a break, her sponsors inserted a nail inside of her as punishment. The doctors at the Sri Lankan hospital said that the nails were heated before being forcibly pushed under her skin. Ariyawathie added, “I had to work from dawn to dusk. I hardly slept. They beat me and threatened to kill me and hide my body… They were really devils with no mercy at all.”
The Sri Lankan mission in Riyadh told the paper that they’ll summon the sponsors of the maid “to discuss the issue”.
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August 26, 2010
The BBC filed the following a few hours ago; Ms. Ariyawathie is to have surgery: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11094968
August 29, 2010
[...] Saudi Arabia, a domestic worker has been physically abused by nails. The family for which she worked for tortured her. The 50-year-old from Sri Lanka had a total of 23 [...]
September 1, 2010
The followng news shows how biased the Saudies are to the plight of this poor woman. Do they try to prove that she nailed her self ? And did not come through the airport but landed in the plane seat in mid air ?. Why it was not dicteded in theSaudi Airport clearly shows their lack security. It is not her fault.
News Item – Saudi suspicious (31.08.2010 18:55 SLT – Daily Mirror Online, SL)
The Saudi embassy issuing a communiqué said they have suspicions regarding the housemaid who had been inserted with 24 nails by her Saudi employer saying she cannot pass check points without being detected. The statement said that there are many doubts regarding this allegation, saying the housemaid cannot pass security check points and sophisticated machines in the airports of Riyadh and Katunayake with the nails in her body. It also said that the Saudi Ambassador is giving personal attention to this matter and is continuing communication with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs in Sri Lanka. L. T. Ariywathie underwent a three hour surgery to get the nails removed last Friday and she is now recovering.
September 4, 2010
Sri Lankan Government should take actions strictly. Foreign ministry should advice to Foreign employment bureau regarding this matter.because they are not take care after went any body for foreign employment.embassies also always sleeping …..
November 15, 2010
[...] reports have come out from Amman and Kuwait about Sri-Lankan maids who were tortured using nails. A similar case we reported in August involved Ariyawathie, a Sri-Lankan maid who had over 20 nails inserted into [...]
May 1, 2011
I want to make a documentary on this maid. I m a film maker from Dubai, would your organization be interested in partnering? This is a disgrace to human rights and I would like to have details of this woman’s whereabouts so I can do the documentary/shooting/interviews.
October 8, 2011
[...] However the life they find often does not provide the financial security they had hoped for, and too frequently puts their lives in the dangerous hands of abusive employers. Tales of physical and mental violence, imprisonment and slavery are all too common. Famously in August 2010, one Sri Lankan maid who had escaped from her Saudi employer was found to have around 24 nails in her body. [...]