Minister Bhaila's mercy mission to Saudi delayed

Deputy Foreign Minister, Hussein Bhaila's mercy mission to save 19-year old Rizana Nafeek for whom time is running out in Saudi Arabia, could not take off as scheduled as Saudi authorities delayed to issue a visa.

A tentative flight leaving Colombo yesterday evening was booked, but could not be boarded by the minister and Rizana’s family due to the visa issue. Minister Bhaila said he was hopeful that clearance would be obtained by today for their visas, which they applied for last Wednesday. The Minister hopes to beg for clemency from the family of the victim.

The Foreign Ministry has sought appointments with the family members of the infant baby who was allegedly murdered, as well as religious leaders and government officials.

However the Minister noted that presently the child's family was not willing to discuss the issue. According to Saudi Arabian law, the victim's family has the prerogative to give pardon. The minister said that while the ministry was trying to seek a pardon from the child's family, lawyers in Saudi were also working on an appeal."Our lawyers there on Friday went to get Rizana's signature in order to make the appeal and the Asian Human Rights Commission is willing to bear the legal cost,” he said.