Colombo Told to Seek Clemency for Rizana From Baby’s Family

Mohammed Rasooldeen
 
RIYADH — A top Saudi official has asked the Sri Lankan government to appeal directly for a pardon to the family of the baby allegedly killed by a Sri Lankan maid.

Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation for military affairs, made the comments during a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow 2008, which concluded last week.

Prince Khaled was speaking about Rizana Nafeek, who was convicted of killing a Saudi baby under her care and sentenced to death by a court in Dawadmi on June 16, 2007. Nafeek — who denies killing the baby saying that the baby choked while she was feeding it — is currently appealing the verdict.

Nafeek, who was below the eligible working age when she arrived in the Kingdom to work as a maid, had her birth date on her passport falsified by a recruiter.

Prince Khaled assured Bogollagama of the Saudi government’s support and indicated that it was the practice of the Saudi authorities to persuade the victim’s family to offer clemency. He added that the matter of granting clemency ultimately lies with the victim’s family.

The prince also said that the law applies to everyone in Saudi Arabia, including the royal family, and highlighted an incident last year when one of his relatives was saved minutes before execution when the victim’s family granted clemency.

Bogollagama also mentioned that Sri Lanka was seeking observer status at the Organization of the Islamic Conference. He said President Mahinda Rajapakse had always been an advocate of strong ties with the Middle East and had been the president of the Palestine Friendship Association for three decades.

Bogollagama said there were 550,000 Sri Lankan workers in the Kingdom, which is the largest concentration of the island nation’s overseas work force.

The Lankan minister also extended an invitation to the Saudi foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka, which Prince Khaled agreed to convey. Dr. Muhammad Amin Kurdi, Saudi ambassador to Singapore, accompanied Prince Khaled. Shehan Ratnavale, high commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore, and Savitri Panabokke were also present during the discussions.