Rizana likely to be freed

7 August 2011 07:41 pm - 21 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Rizana Nafeek, the Sri Lankan maid who was on death row in Saudi Arabia is likely to be pardoned and brought to Sri Lanka very soon, Daily Mirror learns. A ministerial delegation from Sri Lanka is already in that country to attend to the formalities.

The death sentence on Rizana was confirmed on June 16, 2007. She was charged with the strangling of a four-month old baby whom she was bottle-feeding.

Since then, local parties and human rights groups have campaigned to secure a pardon for Rizana who hails from Mutur.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had also requested the King of Saudi Arabia in writing last year to pardon to Rizana who went to Saudi Arabia seeking employment as a housemaid. As a result the King had suspended the implementation of the death sentence on Rizana.

According to Sharia Law which is practiced in Saudi Arabia, even the King cannot pardon a person sentenced to death. If a pardon is to be granted, the consent of both parents of the dead baby must first be obtained. Furthermore, blood money has to be paid.

Daily Mirror learns that the pardon has now been granted, and Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera and Kingsley Ranawaka the chairman of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau had flown to Saudi Arabia on Saturday to attend to the formalities involved.

Rizana was born on February 4, 1988. However, the employment agency that sent her had altered her date of birth to February 2, 1982, and prepared the relevant documents based on that date to send her for employment to Saudi Arabia in May, 2005. (KB)

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Comments - 21

sajitha Monday, 08 August 2011 03:03 AM

Government should take action against the employment agency who changed the dates and documents to show false age and introduce tough laws to prevent things like this happening.
We must concentrate more on sending skilled labor rather than housemaids. These girls/ladies can be trained as care givers, attendants, cleaners etc which will pay more and ensure mus more safety at work.

Leela +Klaus Deneke Monday, 08 August 2011 04:58 PM

thanks GOD. very good news.hope she will be back home and reunited with the family.

zainawa Monday, 08 August 2011 01:28 PM

Alhamdulillah may allah help her get brite future and
Goverment must stop send the maids for midlleast.

mohamed Monday, 08 August 2011 11:23 AM

alhamdulillah

Fazli Z Abdeen Monday, 08 August 2011 09:02 AM

Alhamdulillah, great. Nothing is impossible. She is
out o her trauma at last. Fazli Z Abdeen

Faazil Monday, 08 August 2011 07:08 AM

Masha Allah, this is very good news for every one during Holly month of Ramadan.

asoka Monday, 08 August 2011 06:55 AM

credit should go to the lady doctor...

Firdhouse Monday, 08 August 2011 06:42 AM

Alhamdulillah, our prayers have been answered Ameen.

Bumba Monday, 08 August 2011 03:27 AM

DM. please keep us informed of this great day she will be arriving in Sri Lanka. I will be at the Katunayake airport.

Subaideen Monday, 08 August 2011 03:20 AM

Very very happy news Alhamdulilah. She should be released as early as possible.

Subaideen Monday, 08 August 2011 03:25 AM

Very very happy news Alhamdulilah. She should be released as early as possible.

Imran Hussein Sunday, 07 August 2011 07:59 PM

Thank God, finally the poor girl and her family getting some good news. Efforts of Mr President, Mr Dilan Perera & Dr Kifaya Ishtikar must be appreciated.
Its better to stop exporting unskilled female labour.

Yehiya-Doha Monday, 08 August 2011 02:30 AM

this is good news. Thanx to Saudi Arabian government & his boss. May Allah bless him.

ENW Monday, 08 August 2011 02:14 AM

Happy news after a long time.

Anver Monday, 08 August 2011 01:03 AM

ALHAMDULILLAH - thank God!

anees Monday, 08 August 2011 12:02 AM

masha allah, very good news

BF Monday, 08 August 2011 12:06 AM

It is a good thing. Hope she will be back very soon.

Bumba Sunday, 07 August 2011 11:30 PM

This is very good news and I hope she will be back home safely. We now need to take care of her.

kohuaba` Sunday, 07 August 2011 09:15 PM

really its not government whosaves her.... only by the great ramadan gesture.. if any of our politician get credit for this Saudi ust explain it !

Nille Sunday, 07 August 2011 09:08 PM

Finally! :)

Sam Sunday, 07 August 2011 09:14 PM

Very Good news!!!

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Rizana likely to be freed

Comments - 21

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