After Two Years, Lankan Officials Move in Rizana Case

A high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila will arrive here soon to make a personal appeal for clemency to the parents of an infant that died under the care of a Sri Lankan woman who came to Saudi Arabia after turning 17, allegedly with documents forged by the employment recruiter that gave a false date of birth.

“As a democratic country, we respect the laws of the host country,” Bhaila told Arab News. “However, we want to make a personal appeal to the parents to consider a pardon for this girl who had committed the murder when she was a minor.”

In May 2005, Rizana Nafeek was assigned to take care of a Saudi family’s infant child. After two weeks on the job, the child died under her care. The parents said that Rizana strangled the child to death.

Sri Lankan officials said that Rizana initially confessed to the crime while in custody, but that during the trial she explained that the confession — which was allegedly made shortly after her arrest at a police station with no translators (Rizana doesn’t speak Arabic) — was made under pressure of the moment.

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