ADVERTISEMENT

Authorities to consider appeal against stoning of maid - Sri Lanka foreign ministry

"Through our intervention, they (Saudi Arabia) have agreed to reopen the case. This can be considered a big victory. We will provide her with legal counsel and bear all the costs for legal counsel," de Silva told parliament.

Saudi to consider appeal against stoning of maid-Sri Lanka foreign ministry

Saudi authorities have agreed to consider an appeal against the sentence of death by stoning imposed on a 45-year-old Sri Lankan maid for adultery, Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday, welcoming the decision as a "big victory".

The married woman, who had been working as a domestic helper in Riyadh since 2013, was convicted by a Saudi court in August. Her partner, also a Sri Lankan migrant worker, was given a lesser punishment of 100 lashes because he was single.

Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva said Colombo had appealed to Riyadh's central appeal court, which had agreed to send the case back to the provincial court to reconsider the sentence.

Officials from the Saudi embassy in Colombo were not immediately available to confirm that the sentence was being reconsidered. No date has been announced for the stoning.

ADVERTISEMENT

Oil-producing Saudi Arabia follows sharia, Islamic law, and is often criticised by human rights groups for the wide range of crimes which carry the death penalty, including adultery, drug smuggling and witchcraft.

Saudi Arabia - currently chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council - has executed more than 150 people this year, mostly by public beheading, the largest number of executions in 20 years, rights group Amnesty International said last month.

In 2013, Riyadh beheaded a young Sri Lankan housemaid for killing an infant left in her care, rejecting repeated appeals by the Indian Ocean island against her death sentence.

The beheading prompted United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to express concern over the lack of justice for women in Saudi Arabia, and Colombo recalled its envoy from Riyadh in protest.

The current case has generated national debate and sparked protests in Sri Lanka, home to hundreds of thousands of men and women who migrate to the Middle East every year to take up jobs as maids or drivers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera held an urgent meeting with Saudi diplomats last week to seek clemency for the woman as scores of Buddhist monks protested outside, calling for her to be freed.

Deputy Energy Minister Ajith P. Perera and other politicians have called on Colombo to stop women going to work in Saudi Arabia if the stoning goes ahead.

"I ask the government to ban sending house maids to Saudi Arabia if the stoning continued despite requests from the government," Perera said in parliament on Friday.

According to Central Bank data, 279,952 Sri Lankans went to work in Middle Eastern nations in 2014, generating over $7 billion in remittances, around 9 percent of GDP.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

All teachers need to learn digital skills to earn their students’ respect

All teachers need to learn digital skills to earn their students’ respect

Lagos lawmaker begins road construction in Yaba to ease residents' plights

Lagos lawmaker begins road construction in Yaba to ease residents' plights

Over 100 inmates in Kano seek mercy, review of death sentences

Over 100 inmates in Kano seek mercy, review of death sentences

FG shuts KFC outlet that 'humiliated' Gbenga Daniel's wheelchair-bound son

FG shuts KFC outlet that 'humiliated' Gbenga Daniel's wheelchair-bound son

Reps vow to retrieve sold Govt helicopters, summon aviation ministers

Reps vow to retrieve sold Govt helicopters, summon aviation ministers

Distress of abducted Kuriga school children led to successful rescue - DHQ

Distress of abducted Kuriga school children led to successful rescue - DHQ

Reps halt NASU's strike to resolve dispute between FG, universities

Reps halt NASU's strike to resolve dispute between FG, universities

Lagos VIS seizes 50 unroadworthy vehicles in enforcement operation

Lagos VIS seizes 50 unroadworthy vehicles in enforcement operation

Aiyedatiwa sends 12 commissioner nominees to Ondo Assembly for confirmation

Aiyedatiwa sends 12 commissioner nominees to Ondo Assembly for confirmation

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT