Authorities optimistic of saving Rizana

Rafik JALALDEEN

Sri Lanka authorities have renewed hopes of saving the life of Rizana Nafik now in death row in a Saudi Arabian jail after the translation of her confession was proved erroneous. Rizana was sentenced to death by a Saudi court for the alleged murder of an infant in her care in the home where she worked as a domestic.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said they were very hopeful of a favourable outcome in the Rizana matter. "Our officials are working round the clock to secure her release by conferring with the Saudi authorities, " he said.

According to him, Rizana has been taken to a police station and forced to sign a confession letter which was taken down in Arabic.

Sri Lankan officials overseeing Rizana's trial found mistakes in the translated copy of her confession. "We have raised the issue of the translation with the Saudi authorities. They did not respond to our question. The translation was wrong," the spokesman told the Daily News.

He noted that Rizana has made a second confession before court stating her innocence. However, the Saudi officials did not consider her second confession but went by her first confession made at the police station.

Sri Lankan officials are appealing to save her life based on her denial. It was reported that Rizana did not murder the four month old baby but it chocked on milk.

The case is in favour of Rizana. Saving Rizana is 100 percent certain since the translation issue is to her advantage, he said.

The last hearing was held on January 21, 2010. The next hearing is pending.

Due to efforts of the law firm Al Shammary, the case was taken up and the Supreme Council sent the case back to the original court of Dawadami. During these proceedings it was discovered that the person who authenticated Rizana's alleged confession was not a qualified translator and may not even have known the Tamil language properly.