Lets try and make a difference

Annasopra

AMINA LAWAL SET TO BE STONED
The Nigerian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for Amina Lawal,
condemned for the crime of adultery on August 19th 2002, to be buried up to
her neck and stoned to death. Her death was postponed so that she could
continue to nurse her baby. Hearing on her Execution is now set for 25
SEPTEMBER 2003.
If you haven't been following this case, you might like to know that Amina's
baby is regarded as the 'evidence' of her adultery. Amina's case is being
handled by the Spanish branch of Amnesty International, which is attempting to
put together enough signatures to make the Nigerian government rescind the
death sentence. A similar campaign saved another Nigerian woman, Safiya,
condemned in similar circumstances. By March 4th the petition had amassed over
2,600,000 signatures.
It will only take you a few seconds to sign Amnesty's online petition.
Please sign the petition now, then copy this message into a new email and send
it to everyone in your address book.
<http://www.amnesty.org.au/e-card/petition.aspREMOVETHISBITTOVIEW>

mike65

I thought the mother escaped punnishment by a majority verdict?

I'll sign anyway....

Mike.

athena 2000

Associated Press News wire story - partially pasted below.


Nigerian Woman Escapes Stoning Sentence
5 minutes ago [7:00pm Irish Time]

By TODD PITMAN, Associated Press Writer

KATSINA, Nigeria - An Islamic court overturned the conviction of an illiterate mother sentenced to be stoned to death for having sex out of wedlock, easing international pressure on the Nigerian government in a case that has drawn sharp criticism from around the globe.

Lawyers hailed the victory as a triumph for Islamic justice, but conservative Muslims in the predominantly Islamic north said Amina Lawal should have been executed.

"It's a big relief for all of us," defense attorney Hauwa Ibrahim told The Associated Press after the ruling. "Amina can have her life back, and we are grateful to the court."

Wrapped in a light orange veil and sitting quietly at the front of a small, sweltering courtroom, the shy 32-year-old at the center of the controversy appeared emotionless throughout the hearing, staring down at the floor, cradling her nearly 2-year-old daughter.

A panel of five judges in white turbans and black robes ruled 4-1 in Lawal's favor, citing procedural errors and arguing she was not given "ample opportunity to defend herself."

Lawal did not speak after the verdict, and police and lawyers hustled her away as a crush of reporters crowded around.

Had the sentence been carried out, Lawal would have become the first woman stoned to death in Nigeria since 12 northern states first began adopting strict Islamic law, or Shariah, in 1999.

Reading the hour-long ruling in the local Hausa language, Judge Ibrahim Mai-Unguwa argued that only one judge was present during Lawal's initial conviction in March 2002, instead of the three required under local Islamic law.

He noted that under some interpretations of Shariah, babies can remain in gestation in a mother's womb for over five years, opening the possibility her ex-husband — who she divorced two years before giving birth — could have fathered the child.

Mai-Unguwa also said the policeman who first arrested Lawal in 2002 should have been flogged because he did so in violation of Islamic law, which requires four witnesses to the crime. Lawal was not "caught in the act," Mai-Unguwa said.

Ibrahim, the defense attorney, welcomed the decision.

"It's a victory for law. It's a victory for justice, and it's a victory for what we stand for — dignity and fundamental human rights," she said, smiling broadly.

Lead prosecutor Nurulhuda Mohammad Darma said he was "satisfied" with the ruling. The state still has 30 days to appeal, but Darma said that was unlikely.

---

[story continues on Yahoo.com news and other sites]

Beëlzebooze

He noted that under some interpretations of Shariah, babies can remain in gestation in a mother's womb for over five years, opening the possibility her ex-husband

so Amina Lawal escaped a barbaric execution by virtue of a misconception of reproduction?

ykt0di9url7bc3

I'd say he got it in a email that was going around...

to be honest Would spreding the petition be more worth while that signing it?....word of mouth and all that?

Frank Grimes

Originally posted by Beëlzebooze
so Amina Lawal escaped a barbaric execution by virtue of a misconception of reproduction?

It was mostly due to the fact that the higher court actually applied the law properly to case.

amp

Apparently while this isn't a hoax, it's not officially sanctioned by Amnesty International. Some people suggest that you may actually do more harm then good by signing the petition.

So I've hobbled the link and closed the thread. Use the link at your own discretion.