Sri Lankan maid executed in Saudi Arabia despite appeals for reprieve

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi authorities say a Sri Lankan domestic worker has been executed for killing a Saudi baby in her care in 2005.

The case spurred global appeals to call off the beheading of Rizana Nafeek because she was 17 at the time of the killing. Rights groups called the death sentence a violation of international codes governing the rights of minors. She had denied strangling the 4-month-old boy.

A statement Wednesday from the Saudi Interior Ministry said the execution was carried out, but it gave no other details.

Groups such as Human Rights Watch strongly condemned the execution.