Human Attempt

July 16, 2007 (LBO) – Lawyers hired to file an appeal for the condemned Sri Lankan teenager Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia have met the girl and started proceedings, the rights body that raised funds to fight her case said Monday. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said representatives of the legal firm Kateb Fahad Al-Shammari, had travelled to Dawadimi Jailhouse, where the girl is held and would escort her to a Notary Public to issue a power of attorney.

"Furthermore, the legal firm has submitted an appeal to court as required by the regulations," AHRC said in a statement.

"The legal firm will submit additional justification for the appeal once it receives the Deed of Judgment which has not yet been handed over to them by the Jail Administration."

AHRC says the jail is awaiting approval from the Saudi interior ministry to hand over the documents.

The deadline for the appeal was today, July 16. Rizana was charged with killing a four-month-old baby who died while being bottle fed by the teenager.

Meanwhile reports said a Sri Lanka government delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila who was hoping to travel to Saudi Arabia to press for Rizana's release was denied visas by the Saudi em