OBITUARY: SHED A TEAR FOR RIZANA NAFEEK
Posted on January 13th, 2013
By Fil Munas
They made her kneel and extend her neck, severing her young head with an unmerciful swish of a sword, shortly before noon on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. The forlorn woman was publicly beheaded by the pitiless Saudis in the town square of Dawadmi in Saudi Arabia, slaughtered like an animal for everyone to see, her separated head dropping to the ground with a muffled thud. Her name was Rizana Nafeek and she was from Muttur in Sri Lanka.
The tragedy of Rizana Nafeek is a gruesome story of innocence betrayed, the ghoulish tale of a precious life destroyed. It began in 2005 when Rizana, hardly seventeen, left her impoverished homeland of Sri Lanka to work as a servant maid in the oil-rich country of Saudi Arabia. She had embarked on this ill-fated journey to support her penurious family at home — they lived in a decrepit shack, her father scavenged and sold firewood from the surrounding jungle for their sustenance, her desperate parents could not adequately provide for the children. Young Rizana, fired by the dreams and the innocence of youth, aspired to make a difference for her family with the relatively handsome wages she hoped to earn as a servant in Saudi Arabia.
Rizana arrived in Riyadh on May 4, 2005. She was immediately sent to work in the household of her sponsoring employer in the town of Dawadmi in central Saudi Arabia. Besides her numerous housekeeping tasks, she was ordered to care for her employerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s infant child who was about four months old at the time. While tending the infant on May 22, 2005, the baby choked while feeding and died as the maid frantically tried to save the childƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s life.
Rizana and the baby were in a room by themselves when this happened. As the distraught maid shrieked in horror, the infantƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s absent mother who did not witness any of the antecedents, now rushed into the room and instantly accused Rizana of murdering the child.
Rizana was arrested on the spot. She was forced to confess to a crime she did not commit by the Saudi police using inhuman duress, then convicted of murder without any access to due process or the presumption of innocence. On June 16, 2007, the authorities sentenced the miserable maid to death by public beheading. Rizana subsequently stated she was threatened and beaten by the local police into signing the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-confession.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ No reason was given at the time of the one-sided trial to explain why someone who had worked hardly two weeks in a brand new country should suddenly develop a motive to murder her employerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s child. No autopsy was ever performed to ascertain the cause of death.
Rizana was abandoned by the authorities of her native Sri Lanka who did nothing to help her legally. At great financial expense, the Asian Human Rights Commission based in Hong Kong appealed the sentence to the highest Saudi tribunals, but without success. Upon confirming her execution last Wednesday, the Saudi Interior Ministry added that Rizana was beheaded because she ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-strangled the babyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ after ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-a dispute with the mother.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ To the best of anyoneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s knowledge, no revelations of any dispute with the mother or evidence that the baby was strangled, was ever offered by the Saudi authorities during the seven years they had her incarcerated. This cynical dissembling by the Saudi government in the post-execution statement, besmirching an innocent person they had killed in cold blood, is beyond mind-boggling. RizanaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s grieving parents requested her body returned home for a decent burial. The Saudis refused and buried her in a derelictƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s grave.
Rizana had many supporters around the world pleading for her young life, yet none could save her from the immoral actions of a Saudi government oblivious to human rights and natural justice. Inexplicably, the modern world leaves unchallenged the odious behavior of an irrational and medieval regime riddled with self-righteous sanctimony and intolerance, possessing no respect for human rights or gender equality. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights must publicly denounce this monstrous abuse of a person and the unlawful death inflicted on an innocent fellow human by the custodians of a sordid system. High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay should speak out boldly against this abomination for her to have any credibility among fair-minded people around the world, and if she wishes to demonstrate that her Commission has a conscience.
Fil Munas, M.D. is a psychiatric physician and hobby bee-keeper living in Southern Illinois, USA. He may be reached atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1american.muse@gmail.com
January 12th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Note: No results given of a post-mortem either – Sde Silva – London
January 12th, 2013 at 10:11 pm
The execution is done after due process,and it took 8 years.don’t bark as dog.see our beloved country,crimes are sky rocketing.atleast two rape a day,two murder a day.since we fail to safeguard our children at homeland,it’s shame to undermine the law of another country.
January 13th, 2013 at 12:21 am
I have been crying for this innocent girl. Saudi Arabia is a barbaric Country. Islam is an equally barbaric cult. How can Saudi Arabia’s sharia laws show any mercy towards any human being when the Prophet of Islam never did. He was a xxx, xxx, xxx and a xx. Now what can anyone expect from people who follow such a man? Nothing.
I call on all sri lankans to join as one and kick every Arab muslim out of sri lanka. Dont let any fucking Saudi set foot in sri lanka.
(I am a sri lankan muslim woman (no longer a muslim , because i left islam many years ago)
January 13th, 2013 at 12:59 am
Like Rizana so many innocent human beings has been slaughtered by the Saudi Barbarians without giving any respect for human lives. No any human right groups talk about it when the innocents were killed in cold blood without giving a chance to fight for their innocence. Wrong to say that her native Sri Lanka did nothing to help her. The President intervenes several times and beg the King of Saudi Arabia to release her but they never had a heart to release the innocent poor girl. How can anyone in right mind do such a gruesome killing of a very innocent minor like Rizana. Why they dont have a heart for these very poor innocent lives? Whole world must say in one voice to stop these barbaric killings which are similar to Al QAIDA tactics cutting throats,necks,fingers,legs etc. No civilized country will do such harsh punishments to innocents in this 21st century except murderers.
Rizana you were innocent we all know that. Rest in peace my little child, all the peace loving people pray for your soul and we know you will be in good hands at this very moment and I heard that bitch woman who accused you has given birth to two children and both were handicapped. That’s the punishment they get from God for sending an innocent poor little girl to death without giving any chance to prove her innocence.
January 13th, 2013 at 3:03 am
The GoSL should take this case to an International Court of law and highlight the Injustice system of Saudi Arabia for failing to follow proper Judicial due process. The lack of eye witnesses to the event and without medical autopsy report; alone is sufficient evidence that the Islamic Shariah was not applied.
Some of us cannot think beyond reason. Forming an opinion based of Intelligence and mutual respect is what counts at this time of sadness. The great majority of us are required to live a life of constant media propaganda. Blaming Islam and Muslims are not the solution. Rather to learn from it and take every step to avoid sending our precious young ladies to countries with corrupt, inhumane governance until the message of Islam returns to its Rulers.
The message of Islam in it’s pure essence is yet to catch up. The return to core Islamic values and governance are a matter of time with the collapsing of man-made economic and social systems. The Love of Power and Wealth is the only obstacle to an Islamic way of Life. Muslims are still living in the Makkan era. Sects formed and are divided along the lines of Nationalism and Political ideologies. The ignorant; just blame Wahabi without knowing the Islamic scholar Muhammed Abdul Wahhab’s contribution to Islamic principles. Those who follow the explanations of these Islamic scholar’s are Just Muslims.
Muhammed Abdul Wahhab made every effort to purify Islam by returning Muslims to the original principles of Islam, as exemplified by the Salaf (Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) First and Second Generation in Arabia) and rejecting what was regarded as corruptions introduced by Bid’ah (Innovation of new practices) and Shirk (Attributing Partners). Although all Muslims pray to one God, Muhammed Abdul Wahhab was keen on emphasising that no intercession with God was possible without God’s permission, which God only grants to whom He wills and only to benefit those whom He wills, certainly not the ones who invoke anything or anyone except Him, as these would never be forgiven.
January 13th, 2013 at 8:51 am
I am of the view that this kind of barbaric punishment to any one, let alone an under age girl is a reflection that some thing is horrible wrong with Islam and people who follow it as their faith. just look at the kind of reaction you see in Sri Lanka to barbaric punishment given to her by Saudis.. Vast majority of those who express condolences and cry openly are from majority Sinhala community though Rizana is Muslim. And the reaction of the Sri Lankan Muslims to this incident is meek and subdued. No open revulsion or condemnation…And in fact the chief priest of Muttur Mosque where this poor girl’s family even go for religious rites, says that this death happened with the blessing of their god Allah and no one can question the Sharia law under which Rizana was tried and put to death.. Just imagine their reaction… http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-zmGJPBe0gs
January 14th, 2013 at 7:29 am
WHat a bunch of Wahabbi Muslim scum these Saudis are. They just killed an innocent person from Sri Lanka. That there is no doubt. It seems the next threat to Sri lanka will be Al Qaida Wahabbi scum funded by saudi arabia. However I have no doubt like the LTTE these Al Qaida muslim scum will be wiped off Sri Lankan soil if they try their barbarism like they have in Middle east etc. Sri Lankan armed forces are well capable of wiping these scum off just like the LTTE. However Sri Lanka deserves a long peace after defeating the LTTE, Sri Lanka doesn’t need another war with Saudi funded Al Qaida. Sri Lanka should investigate every mosque and madrassa in Sri Lanka and find out which ones are being funded by Saudi money. If they are kick these wahabbis out of Sri Lanka back to Saudi Arabia. Also Sri Lankans should not go and work in such dangerous wahabbi muslim country like Saudi Arabia. Otherwise many others will suffer the same fate as this innocent person. Also I agree there is something fundamental to Islam as a whole that is barbaric and medieval. It is problem with the religion as a whole, where human life is not respected. Buddhism in Sri Lanka is a million times superior to this medieval barbaric religous cult called Islam that beheads people that don’t agree with its barbaric teachings.
January 15th, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Would like to add something as a reply to Muhandiram !
All the terrorists may do this kind of be headings , rapes etc. Yet a Government doing this kind of work is unacceptable. Its a pathetic situ that your small mind don’t understand this.
Poor innocent Rizana was killed by the courts / government of the country ! not by any terrorists !
I am a Buddhist and praying on behalf of the poor innocent girl , who was at just 24 and her pretty younger hood sized by her poorness and rude rootless Arabians !
No one should step in to this country ! you don’t know when you head is gone !
January 15th, 2013 at 11:30 pm
The funny thing is that some Muslims are trying to put the blame on Saudis for this act and not accept this practice and other practices of Muslims according to Islam is wrong, outdated and really bad for the human kind especially for women. They forget that these were taught by an illiterate man who could not read or write and also heard the voices of God which is the first sign of Schizophrenia (worse incurable Mental Illness – there are millions who hear and talk to God in Psychiatric hospitals in the world including in Muslims countries like him). He is a man who has killed many and also would have charged as a child molester in today’s world. If Allah is so powerful I like to ask those Muslims why that Allah is not stopping these Barbaric acts, why is Allah not punishing those who are breaking his word and bring disgrace to Allah. That is the least Allah can do I suppose. I am yet to see that. Allah can dry out all the oil wells in Saudi as Muslims reckon that Allah has given those to Muslims. Allah could have stopped this girl’s suffering and beheading if Allah was so powerful, after all Allah created these bastards and the girl, and Allah should have the power to stop it. I am confused? Those educated Muslims who supposed to preach about Islam should know the answer, and in your answer please quote from the Koran as I have one, so I can check it out to verify. Why is that Allah is not punishing those Muslims (they pray 5 times a day) who do illegal things in Sri Lanka, who build Mosques illegally, sell drugs etc?
January 16th, 2013 at 7:35 pm
totally agreeing with rohanana ! comment.
People either Islamic , Christians , or Buddhist should build a rational thinking as t what is good and bad ! than going after illiterate inhuman mentally upset ones comments !
January 19th, 2013 at 3:00 am
latest news!
Rizana’s mother refusec to accept merderous Saudi dirty money !
A true Lankan mother billion times better person than “Ceylonese” !, and better than most Sinhala people.
Slap on the face of HussainFahmy, the latest prophet(pupet).