by Rukshana Rizwie
(December 19, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)The fate of Rizana Nafeek continues to be muddled in rumours.
The much-circulated news alert via SMS claimed that her death sentence had been suspended by the Saudi King, but officials now say nothing has changed.
An official, who did not wish to be identified, confided that despite the popular claim that her case had been suspended, no official word has emerged from Saudi authorities and neither has the Saudi Arabian embassy in Sri Lanka issued a statement.
“Our President has sent a letter of appeal to the King, requesting amnesty for Rizana Nafeek, but no reply has been solicited as yet,” he added.
Rizana Nafeek’s death sentence was upheld by the Riyadh Supreme Court on October 25, 2010.
She was accused of choking an infant while feeding him back in 2005 when she was only 17 years of age.
The media, however, had gone haywire over her case claiming that her sentence had been suspended, but there is no evidence to prove it.
There were also rumours that Rishad Badiuddin was leaving for Saudi Arabia to assist in hastening a verdict but that too is yet to materialise.
There’s been not a hum about her situation with her case still resting with the King pending approval.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is reportedly embroiled in a crisis of its own, regarding its monarchy.
The appeal by President Mahinda Rajapaksa for amnesty for the maid was sent a few days before the King fell ill and had to be taken to the US for immediate medical treatment.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, 87, had to be taken for treatment in the US for a back ailment and a blood clot.
After his departure, reports emerged that Prince Sultan would return to the kingdom, after a lengthy holiday, to take his place temporarily.
At 86 years of age, he is also unwell and has been away from the kingdom for almost a year and is suffering from a host of illnesses.
In such circumstances, no verdict can be taken by someone second in command, unless he seeks the advice or approval of King.
And as for Rizana’s case, her matter wasn’t even considered in light of the situation in Saudi Arabia.
Source say it’s unlikely that Rizana’s case would be taken up immediately.
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