Rizana Nafeek, execution "imminent" in a Saudi jail
Colombo
(AsiaNews) - Rizana Nafeek may be executed "at any moment" warns
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), while calling for the intervention of the
international community to ask Saudi Arabia to pardon the Sri Lankan Muslim,
sentenced to death for the alleged murder of a newborn. Citing
Kifaya Iftekhar, a muslim who is closely following the
case, the AHRC says the execution of the young woman is "imminent",
and calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to "renew diplomatic
efforts" to save her life.
Hailing
from a very poor family, Rizana arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2005, just 17 years old
(with a false passport), to work as a maid. The
child in the family where she was working died while she was on duty. Rizana
was accused of murder and sentenced to death with a mock trial, based on a
signed confession that she did not know the content of, because it was written
in Arabic. Since
2007, she has been on death row.
Recently,
it seemed that the story of Rizana had come to a positive turning point, thanks
to certain statements made by the Crown Prince of the Kingdom. However,
the AHRC denies this possibility, stating that the Saudi authorities would have
"warned the Sri Lankan government" of the impending execution.
For
several months, Colombo has fought for the release of Rizana Nafeek, always
calling it "close." However,
according to the charity, the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is
making these statements to calm tempers and reassure those who are fighting for
the girl's freedom. In
fact, the AHRC said, "the government has not been able to gain any
diplomatic ties with the family of the newborn, who alone have the power to
grant a pardon to Rizana. Usually, this is achieved by payment or hoping in the
compassion of the family" .
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