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Saudi Arabia executes Sri Lankan domestic worker over infant death

Arab World Materials 9 January 2013 16:05 (UTC +04:00)
A Sri Lankan domestic worker was executed in Saudia Arabia on Wednesday for the 2005 death of an infant in her care, the Foreign Ministry in Colombo said, dpa reported.
Saudi Arabia executes Sri Lankan domestic worker over infant death

A Sri Lankan domestic worker was executed in Saudia Arabia on Wednesday for the 2005 death of an infant in her care, the Foreign Ministry in Colombo said, dpa reported.

Rizana Nafeek travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2005 on a forged passport saying she was over 18 and eligible to work when she was 17 years old.

After a four-month-old baby died in her care, she said the child had choked while drinking milk from a bottle, but was found guilty of strangling it to death.

Local and international organizations and leaders called for her release, including Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday.

Sri Lanka's parliament observed a minute of silence Wednesday in her memory.

Domestic workers in the Middle East contribute a large part of the remittances which make up Sri Lanka's largest source of foreign earnings.

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