Rizana’s parents demand legal action

24 July 2011 03:33 pm Views - 6272

Sri Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek’s mother Rifana Nafeek has asked the government to take legal action against the foreign employment agency which had sent her daughter to Saudi Arabia after altering her daughter’s age in the passport.

She told Daily Mirror online that neither she nor her husband were aware that the age had been altered in the passport at the time Rizana was sent abroad.
“My daughter took the decision to go abroad due to the abject poverty our family was battling with. Her flight in a short period,” mother Rifana said.

She said the family was still unaware of the identity of the foreign employment agency which arranged Rizana’s trip abroad because it was Rizana’s grandmother who liaised with the agency.  She died soon after hearing about the death sentence on Rizana.

Several politicians and social organizations had volunteered to build a house for Rizana’s family after the media coverage on the death sentence but Rizana’s parents had refused permission.

“There is no point in building houses without my daughter,” Rifana said

She said her daughter who was sentenced to death by a Saudi Arabian High Court for allegedly causing the death of a four-month-old infant knew nothing about the sentence being confirmed by the appeal court.

“Our family as well as Rizana expects her to be released soon,” Rifana said and added that though in prison, Rizana was in good health.
“She contacts us every month through Dr. Kibaya Isthikar a Saudi-based Sri Lankan doctor who is the only person allowed to see Rizana,” mother Rifana said. (Pix and text by Rifthi Ali)