No truth in the beheading news of Rizana Nafeek

Sources in Saudi Arabia confirmed to Asian Tribune that there is no truth in the news item circulated in Colombo about the impending beheading of Sri Lankan House Maid Rizana Nafeek.

This news item was brought to the notice of Asian Tribune which was transmitted via SMS: “Media Reports says death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek has been confirmed by the Saudi Court: She will be executed by beheading – local media.”

This SMS news was circulated to mobile phone owners in Colombo yesterday evening.

There is nothing to panic about this news item.

In fact, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court on 19 October 2010 has ratified the death sentence delivered by the Dawdami High Court on June 16, 2007.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 25 October 2010, appealed to Saudi Monarch, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz to spare Sri Lankan maid's life who is convicted for killing her employer’s baby.

According to sources in Saudi Arabia, the appeal of the Sri Lanka President is still pending and no decision has been yet made, but the execution has been suspended.

In the second week of May 2011, this writer visited Saudi Arabia and met with Mr. Abu Abdul Malik, the brother of Mrs. Naif Jiziyan Khalaf Al Otaibi, who is also one of the tribal leaders.

He has agreed with this writer that he is prepared to meet a Sri Lankan delegation to discuss and bring this matter to an acceptable conclusion.

In the meantime, Minister of Foreign Employment, Promotion and Welfare, Dilan Perera told Asian Tribune that he is planning to send a high-powered delegation to Saudi Arabia to arrange clemency for the Sri Lankan House maid Rizana Nafeek who is languishing in Saudi prison since 25 May 2005.

It is learnt that Sri Lankan Government has to finalize its delegation soon to dispatch to Riyadh for negotiation with the family of Mr. Naif Jiziyan Khalaf Al Otaibi and also with the Saudi Arabian Authorities.

In the meantime an Indonesian House Maid Darsem binti Dawud was sentenced to death for killing her Yemeni employer in 2009.

To save her life Indonesian Government paid 2 million Saudi Riyal as blood money.

Already compensation has been paid by Indonesian Embassy officials to a panel at the Riyadh governorate dealing with the case.

The Indonesian Embassy Officials in Riyadh explained that, “The payment of blood money is an expression of the Indonesian government’s commitment to protect its overseas workers at any cost.”

He said the Riyadh court had already decided to release the maid, who is currently languishing in the Malaz Jail.

Similarly, Minister of Foreign Employment, Promotion and Welfare Dilan Perera told Asian Tribune that they will do everything to safeguard the life of Rizana Nafeek - an innocent girl from Muthur.

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- Asian Tribune -