RIZANA UPDATE 081107

Mohammad Razeena, center, mother of Rizana Nafeek, with her two sisters

Will Saudi summer holidays rescue housemaid Rizana from the sword?
Well this gives Rizana and her lawyers more time to prepare a defense and appeal. Lets hope that the family of the unfortunate baby will come to have enough compassion to spare Rizana. This will also give more time for the international community to petition the Saudi government for clemency.

Sat, 2007-08-11 04:58
By Joseph Thavaraja
Colombo, 11 August, (Asiantribune.com):

The summer holidays in Saudi Kingdom that began recently has brought a much needed respite to the life of Sri Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek, who is condemned to be beheaded by Saudi authorities for 'murder of a Saudi infant.'
As a result of residents in Riyadh leaving their homes with the onset of summer holidays, most offices and even the Appeal Courts have shut down in the city. "The courts have closed due to the summer holidays period. And at the moment we are closely monitoring the situation" said a Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry source speaking to the Asian Tribune.
"The courts have no so far t informed when the Appeal will be heard when they re-open. Once the courts open after holidays, Rizana's lawyers will be informed when her case will be taken up" the foreign ministry source said. "The news reports that the Appeal courts have closed due to the hot weather are wrong" the source added.
Rizana therefore now has an unexpected 'window period' till the re-opening of the Riyadh Appeal Courts.
In the meantime, reports reveal that Rizana’s sponsor Al Otabi, who has alleged that Rizana killed his four months old baby, was now blessed with another baby.
International reports however said that Rizana will be beheaded if she receives no clemency from the Riyadh Appeal Courts or from the parents of the dead infant.
The 19 year old Ms. Rizana Nafeek was found guilty of killing a baby in her care and was sentenced on June 16 to death by beheading.
According to Amnesty International, she was only 17 years old when she allegedly committed the offence.
Asian Tribune