We should not forget Rizana, By Saybhan Samat

Early this year it was reported that Kifaya Ifthikar, a social worker, who met Rizana in prison, said the maid looked sick and that the doctors had advised her to undergo surgery for hernia.

Prolonging the anxiety and worry of an innocent, poor house-maid is abominable.

It was indeed heatening a couple of years ago to see the concern for Rizana, a poor girl from Mutur, facing the death penalty in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The concern for her was unprecedented. When foreign human rights organizations brought her predicament to light, the government, social organizations and individual Sri Lankans did everything possible to alleviate the suffering of this poor girl.

It was reported that Sri Lankans working in Saudi Arabia even collected money for her. These actions only proved humanness of all Sri Lankans whether they be Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims. It was a beautiful gesture that underscored communal harmony and fellow feeling.

However, one hardly hears anything about Rizana’s fate. To be suspended in a position between life and death will certainly cause clinical depression or an anxiety disorder which even may result in schizophrenia and possible suicide.

It is in fact the duty of all Sri Lankans human rights organizations and social service outfits to agitate for the release of Rizana. If we remain silent the Saudi regime will surely behead her in public.

The media, human rights organizations, our foreign ministry and all those who were concerned about Rizna’s plight have lost interest in her.

The last heard from Sri Lankan Ambassador Abdul Ajeed Mohammed Marleen now deceased was “that Rizana would have to wait until the case is taken up again. The date for the next hearing is unknown… Some reconciliatory efforts with the deceased infant’s father Al-Otaiba would prevent the maid from languishing in jail for a longer time.” He did not elaborate.

Apparently the Foreign Ministry has conveniently closed the file on poor Rizana.

Early this year it was reported that Kifaya Ifthikar, a social worker, who met Rizana in prison, said the maid looked sick and that the doctors had advised her to undergo surgery for hernia.

Prolonging the anxiety and worry of an innocent, poor house-maid is abominable.