Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned to report that a Sri Lankan girl charged with the death of a baby in her care still faces the death penalty in a Saudi prison, despite strong flaws in her case and her pardoning by one of the babys parents. Rizana Nafeek has now been in prison since 2005, when she was 17. Her case is lagging and her health is in question. As President Barack Obama visits His Majesty King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud this week we urge him to bring the girls situation to the attention of his highness.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
When Rizanas case was first taken up by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in 2007, it was heartened to see the international support she was given. Her situation is not uncommon for migrant workers, who are often young, inexperienced and have little understanding of the culture, laws and legal practices they fall foul of in their new country. Without funded legal assistance from the urgent appeal, Rizana would have been beheaded in 2007 while 19-years-old, for something that happened when she was a minor.
Since then, as seen in our statements and appeals (including STM-003-2009, STM-258-2008, UA-207-2007, UP-093-2007, PL-023-2007, UG-004-2007) the flaws in the case have seen her death sentence postponed but she remains in prison. At the beginning of the year the case was pending before the Dawadami High Court and five months on it lies there still, since various witnesses cannot be located. Jail has taken up the remaining years of Rizanas childhood and the AHRC is concerned that it will extend into her twenties through no fault of her own. It is also concerned for the success of her appeal, should she fall out of the public eye.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to U.S. President Barack Obama, along with King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud and the Saudi authorities, asking for their attention and their intervention into this case, which has united people around the world and deals with issues from the vulnerability of young domestic workers abroad to the strength and power of the law.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
SRI LANKA/SAUDI ARABIA: President Obama urged to take up the case of a young girl facing the death penalty during his visit to Riyadh
I am writing on behalf of Rizana Nafeek, a young Sri Lankan who has been facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia since 2005. As a 17-year-old domestic helper Rizana was sentenced to death by beheading when the baby in her care died. International interventions and funding allowed her the legal support to make an appeal, but despite strong flaws in her case and her pardoning by one of the babys parents, Rizana remains in jail, her case lagging and her health in question. As his highness King Abdullah meets with President Obama this week, I urge you both to consider her plight.
When Rizanas case was first taken up by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in 2007, it was gratified to see the international support she was given. Her kind of case is not uncommon for migrant workers, who are often young, inexperienced and with no understanding of the culture, laws and legal practices they fall foul of. Without funded legal assistance from the appeal, Rizana would have been beheaded in 2007.
However since then, as seen in AHRC statements and appeals (including STM-003-2009, STM-258-2008, UA-207-2007, UP-093-2007, AHRC-PL-023-2007, UG-004-2007) many flaws in the case have come to light. At the beginning of the year her death sentence had been postponed and her case was pending before the Dawadami High Court. It lies there still, since various witnesses cannot be located, and the AHRC is concerned that Rizanas time in prison will extend into her twenties, through no fault of her own. It is also concerned for the success of her appeal, should she fall out of the public eye.
This is a case that has spanned continents and united people across the globe; both over the fate of Rizana herself and over what her case symbolises: the vulnerability of the young and the poor; the hope that can be derived from the law; and the need for it to be within reach of every person, whether they understand it or not. It is certainly an issue worthy of your attention and I hope it can be raised during the meeting this month between the American and Saudi heads of state.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
President Barack Obama
Address:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
USA
Tel: (1-202) 456-1414
Fax: (1-202) 456-2461
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Royal Court, Riyadh
SAUDI ARABIA
HRH Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud
Minister of Interior
PO Box 2933
Riyadh 11134
SAUDI ARABIA
Fax: +(966) 1-403 1185
_____________________
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
