Abdullah Al-Jamili

Al-Madinah

Lamis was a young girl aged six who was slaughtered recently by an Ethiopian housemaid in Houtat Bani Tamim. A few months earlier, Tala, a young girl, was slaughtered in Yanbu by an Indonesian maid who chopped off her head from the rest of her body.



There are many incidents of innocent babies being killed by their housemaids. Who is responsible for the loss of these innocent lives? The perpetrator is no doubt a criminal but who set the stage for him or her? Who provided them with the stage to commit their heinous crimes?



This is a big question which should be answered by no one other than the Saudi society itself with utmost seriousness and rationality. Families with housemaids are also requested to answer this question.



In my opinion, and you may describe me as backward or reactionary, it is the pursuit for social standing by some Saudi women that caused the death of these innocent children.



Through cooperation and the use of modern technology, most Saudi families can run their own home affairs without the need for a foreign helping hand. Even the working women can manage to do their house chores without the need for a housemaid.



The media also takes part of the blame. They have been encouraging women to go out for work. As a result, a working mother will be absent from her home and children the whole day thus giving housemaids the opportunity to do what they want to do with their children. I have no doubt that not all working women are in need of the salary for which they leave their homes for long hours leaving their children in the hands of total strangers.



The housemaid also represents a financial burden on families. This is why the families are always looking for the cheap house helps at the expense of expertise and skillfulness.



Of course, not all housemaids are killers or brutal. However, to avoid such incidents the concerned authorities should cooperate with the private sector to build nurseries in all residential areas where working mothers may leave their children during work hours.



I suggest that the members of each family get together in the evening to discuss if they really need a housemaid or can do without her. By so doing the families will protect their children against murder, abuse, sorcery and alien culture and traditions and will also reduce their financial burden.