Latest news with #Al-Turki
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
ICE arrests ‘criminal alien' released from prison with sex crimes conviction: 'He won't be welcome back'
A "criminal alien" and "suspected terrorist" who served 19 years in prison for holding his housekeeper captive and repeatedly molesting her, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials after his release from the Arapahoe County Jail in Centennial, Colorado, Tuesday, and will be deported back to Saudi Arabia. Following a jury trial in 2006, Homaidan Al-Turki Al-Turki was convicted of misdemeanor false imprisonment, misdemeanor conspiracy to commit false imprisonment, 11 counts of felony unlawful sexual contact, felony extortion, and felony theft of $15,000 or more. Al-Turki served a six-years-to-life sentence at the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC). Deportation Flights To Libya Would Violate Court Order Without Prior Notice, Federal Judge Says He first became parole-eligible in 2011, but failed to participate in the DOC's sex-offender treatment program, preventing his release and delaying his deportation back to Saudi Arabia. Al-Turki filed numerous motions with the courts while incarcerated, including a recent pending motion alleging his defense counsel did not adequately represent him at trial. Read On The Fox News App In granting him a hearing, District Court Judge Eric White said, "[t]he defendant's counsel may not have understood fundamental aspects of the submitted jury instructions, particularly that misdemeanor unlawful sexual contact could be elevated to a felony conviction if the jury found that Al-Turki used force, intimidation, or threats to cause the victim's submission." Federal Judge Opens Door To Alien Enemies Act Targets Suing Trump Administration Al-Turki's original attorneys said they thought the unlawful sexual contact convictions were for misdemeanor offenses, which would have carried a jail sentence of up to two years. However, because the jury found him guilty of unlawful sexual contact offenses that were committed through physical force and violence, the charges were enhanced to class 4 felonies. Al-Turki was sentenced to several concurrent terms of six-years-to-life in prison on those counts and was ordered to complete sex offender treatment. The 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office agreed on Tuesday to amend some of the felony counts, with the condition he is sent back to his home country. Al-Turki, now 56, pleaded guilty, and was immediately sentenced to concurrent terms of six years in the Colorado DOC. Illegal Immigrant Murderers Could Face Death Penalty Under New Gop Bill The sentence on each count was ordered to be served concurrently, to include a mandatory period of parole supervision that Al-Turki had already served due to his nearly 19 years in prison. He was taken into ICE custody Tuesday afternoon pursuant to a removal order to deport him back to Saudi Arabia. "Based on careful analysis of the facts and evidence presented through the 35(c) motion, as well as the difficulty in re-trying the case nearly two decades later if the motion was successful, our office determined that resentencing Al-Turki to 11 felony sex offenses, in addition to the other offenses that he stands convicted of, and resulting in his removal from the United States, is the appropriate outcome in this case at this time," Colorado 18th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley said. Stay In Your Lane: Florida Ag Fires Next Volley Against Judge Halting State Immigration Law While Brackley said it was a difficult decision, he noted it "strikes the right balance between ensuring that Al-Turki remains a convicted sex felon and is removed from our community, while at the same time considering the resources that have been expended in holding this defendant accountable." ICE officials said Al-Turki first entered the U.S. at an unknown location in 1992, before leaving in 1993. In 1994, he lawfully reentered again at an unknown location. In 2001, Al-Turki was questioned about the 9/11 attacks, and left the U.S. again at an unknown time and place. He lawfully reentered the U.S. again in 2002. He was convicted of the crimes in 2006, and has had an administrative order of removal since 2013. "He won't be welcome back to the United States again," ICE officials wrote in a post on article source: ICE arrests 'criminal alien' released from prison with sex crimes conviction: 'He won't be welcome back'
Saudi Gazette
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi national freed after 19 years in US prison, set for deportation
DENVER — Saudi citizen Homaidan Al-Turki, 56, is expected to arrive in the Kingdom in the coming days following nearly two decades of imprisonment in the United States. Al-Turki was convicted in 2006 on charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault against his Indonesian housekeeper in the state of Colorado, a case that sparked widespread controversy and allegations of judicial bias. According to local media reports, a court in Colorado ruled last week to close Al-Turki's case and authorize his deportation after he accepted a plea agreement. The ruling followed a new hearing in which his legal team successfully argued that his original trial was marred by ineffective counsel. The court agreed to resentence Al-Turki to lesser charges, contingent on his removal from the United States. A representative of the Saudi embassy's legal team and several of Al-Turki's daughters were present at the hearing. Sources familiar with the matter told that Al-Turki was transferred to the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday, with his return to Saudi Arabia pending final procedures. The decision ends a legal saga that began in 2004, when Al-Turki was first arrested alongside his wife for alleged immigration violations. He was later re-arrested in 2006 and sentenced to 28 years in prison. His case drew intense attention both in Saudi Arabia and among Muslim advocacy groups in the US, who argued he was targeted due to rising Islamophobia in the post-9/11 climate. A former linguistics scholar and PhD candidate at the University of Denver, Al-Turki maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, describing himself as a victim of anti-Muslim sentiment. In 2013, while serving his sentence, Al-Turki was briefly investigated in connection with the killing of a Colorado corrections official—a claim he denied and was never charged for. During his incarceration, his family launched repeated legal petitions seeking clemency or case review, all of which were rejected until the latest court decision. With the victim's whereabouts unknown and key witnesses deceased, the district attorney's office cited the challenges of retrying the case as a factor in accepting the plea deal. 'This resolution ensures Al-Turki remains a convicted felon and is permanently removed from our community,' said Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley in a statement. The case, long seen in Saudi Arabia as politically and emotionally charged, is now formally closed. Al-Turki's family has refrained from public comment, awaiting his safe return to Riyadh. — SG with inputs from Agencies
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man who served 19 years for holding housekeeper captive resentenced, will be deported
DENVER (KDVR) — On Tuesday, a man pleaded guilty to 11 amended charges related to accusations of holding his Indonesian-born housekeeper captive and repeatedly molesting her over four years, and was immediately resentenced, according to a Colorado district attorney's office. Homaidan Al-Turki, 56, stood trial in 2006 and was convicted of 18 charges, ranging from false imprisonment to unlawful sexual contact, extortion and theft stemming from 2000 to 2004, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office reported on Thursday. Since then, Al-Turki has been serving his six-year-to-life sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Previous case reporting: Declassified documents show possible link between man in Colorado and 9/11 He became eligible for parole in 2011, but didn't participate in the DOC's sex-offender treatment program, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Because he didn't participate in the program, he was prohibited from release, delaying his deportation back to Saudi Arabia. Al-Turki has filed several motions with the court alleging that his defense counsel improperly represented him. A hearing to determine if Al-Turki qualified for post-conviction relief led to the DA's office agreeing to amend 11 counts if Al-Turki would plead guilty to them. Those charges were all criminal attempt to commit unlawful sexual contact by physical force, and a judge sentenced Al-Turki to six years on each amended count to be served concurrently. 'Mr. Al-Turki raised 6th Amendment concerns that his trial attorneys—all four of them— failed to adequately research Colorado statutes relating to sentencing for unlawful sexual behaviors,' Chief Deputy DA Ann Tomsic said in a release. 'This issue, coupled with the nearly 19 years the defendant has served in prison and the difficulties retrying the case due to its age, unknown location of the victim, and death of witnesses, necessitated an agreement to a reduction in the eleven sex offense charges and their sentences, along with an understanding that he will be immediately removed from the United States.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took Al-Turki into custody on Tuesday and will remove him from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia. 'Al-Turki has served nearly two decades in prison for his heinous and aggravated conduct,' District Attorney Amy Padden said. 'Returning this convicted felon and sex offender to his home country ensures he will not be able to prey on anyone else in our community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Gulf Insider
18-04-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
UNESCO Adds Salma Geopark, North Riyadh Geopark To Its Global Network
North Riyadh Geopark offers visitors fossilized coral reefs dating back over 150 million years, alongside limestone caves and mountain ranges that unveil geological transformations UNESCO has recognized Saudi Arabia's geological diversity by adding the North Riyadh Geopark and Salma Geopark to its global network — marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom's environmental conservation and sustainable development efforts. This prestigious designation opens new frontiers for geological tourism, scientific research, and international collaboration. Hussam Al-Turki, director of the Saudi Geoparks Initiative, emphasized that this achievement transcends mere classification. It represents a strategic vision deeply aligned with Saudi Vision 2030's goal of establishing the Kingdom as a global leader in environmental sustainability. 'From the beginning, we aspired for these geoparks to be more than geological sites — they are living platforms that narrate Earth's stories, bearing witness to the passage of time and reflecting the rich natural diversity we possess,' Al-Turki told Arab News. Each geopark boasts a unique geological character. North Riyadh Geopark offers visitors fossilized coral reefs dating back over 150 million years, alongside limestone caves and mountain ranges that unveil geological transformations. Salma Geopark in Hail presents a dramatic landscape of rare volcanic formations, including calderas, lava fields, and volcanic craters that chronicle millions of years of geological activity. Beyond tourism, these geoparks represent promising research platforms. Universities and scientific centers, both locally and internationally, now have unprecedented opportunities to study Earth's layers and natural phenomena. Al-Turki noted that the project adheres to the highest global standards, with UNESCO conducting rigorous evaluations before approving the sites. This classification sends a clear message to the world: preserving geological heritage is not a luxury but a developmental commitment and an investment in a green future. 'With additional sites under development, Saudi Arabia is redefining humanity's relationship with the Earth,' Al-Turki concluded.
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Arab News
UNESCO adds Salma Geopark, North Riyadh Geopark to its global network
RIYADH: UNESCO has recognized Saudi Arabia's geological diversity by adding the North Riyadh Geopark and Salma Geopark to its global network — marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom's environmental conservation and sustainable development efforts. This prestigious designation opens new frontiers for geological tourism, scientific research, and international collaboration. Hussam Al-Turki, director of the Saudi Geoparks Initiative, emphasized that this achievement transcends mere classification. It represents a strategic vision deeply aligned with Saudi Vision 2030's goal of establishing the Kingdom as a global leader in environmental sustainability. 'From the beginning, we aspired for these geoparks to be more than geological sites — they are living platforms that narrate Earth's stories, bearing witness to the passage of time and reflecting the rich natural diversity we possess,' Al-Turki told Arab News. Each geopark boasts a unique geological character. North Riyadh Geopark offers visitors fossilized coral reefs dating back over 150 million years, alongside limestone caves and mountain ranges that unveil geological transformations. Salma Geopark in Hail presents a dramatic landscape of rare volcanic formations, including calderas, lava fields, and volcanic craters that chronicle millions of years of geological activity. Beyond tourism, these geoparks represent promising research platforms. Universities and scientific centers, both locally and internationally, now have unprecedented opportunities to study Earth's layers and natural phenomena. Al-Turki noted that the project adheres to the highest global standards, with UNESCO conducting rigorous evaluations before approving the sites. This classification sends a clear message to the world: preserving geological heritage is not a luxury but a developmental commitment and an investment in a green future. 'With additional sites under development, Saudi Arabia is redefining humanity's relationship with the Earth,' Al-Turki concluded.
