Nigerian woman to be stoned to death 8/27/03

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CROSS POST WIDELY

 

Amina Lawal ExecutionHearing on AMINA LAWALSET TO BE STONED ON - 27 AUGUST 2003The 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 toher neck and stoned to death. Her death was postponed so that she couldcontinue to nurse her baby. Hearing on her Execution is now set for 27AUGUST 2003.If you haven't been following this case, you might like to know thatAmina's baby is regarded as the 'evidence' of her adultery.Amina's case is being handled by the Spanish branch of AmnestyInternational, which is attempting to put together enough signatures tomake the Nigerian government rescind the death sentence. A similarcampaign saved another Nigerian woman, Safiya, condemned in similarcircumstances. By March 4th the petition had amassed over 2,600,000signatures. It will only take you a few seconds to sign Amnesty's onlinepetition. Please sign the petition now, then copy this message into a newemail and send it to everyone in your address book.Go to the web pagehttp://www.amnesty.org.au/e-card/petition.asp

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not true now!! go to Amnesty Intl website [below] for an update. There is another hearing scheduled on the 27th--not her death--and there have been many requests to discontinue these petitions for now--they don't help. If we are really to play a helpful role in this terrible case, it requires checking the current status before knee-jerk sending out any stale post that comes our way. And I know it takes a few minutes more. That's is a major reason why Email petitions are notoriously hard to stop when they are no longer relevant--yet we don't want to lose an effective tool for the many times we need them. Below is an update, as of early august, 2003. Please use the link to keep current as needed. barbara ------ AMINA LAWAL UPDATE: Because people are starting to circulate the old misleading petitions again, I asked Amnesty International for an update on Amina Lawal, the Nigerian woman sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery. This is the answer I received. Please circulate widely, especially to people who send you some version of the petitions! Alison AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Public Statement AI Index: AFR 44/026/2003 (Public) News Service No: 189 12 August 2003 Nigeria: Amina Lawal's appeal case to be heard on 27 August After several adjournments, the hearing of Amina Lawal's appeal is due to take place on 27 August 2003 in her home state of Katsina, northern Nigeria. Amina Lawal and her lawyers are expected to be present at the hearing. The judicial process should follow its course if the quorum of judges is met this time. Amnesty International continues to receive queries falsely claiming that Amina Lawal's execution is imminent - before or on 27 August - and referring to Amnesty International as a source. No execution of the sentence is due before or on that date. Amnesty International understands that Amina Lawal's right to legal representation and her right to appeal are guaranteed at this stage. She is not in detention and has good legal representation. She is also being supported by a coalition of Nigerian women's groups and human rights groups. Amnesty International is in close touch with these organizations. "Unfortunately, this case has now been adjourned so many times that many of those who have campaigned for her sentence to be quashed cannot understand why a woman and her child can be put under so much duress. This is becoming a clear case of justice delayed is justice denied," Amnesty International said. Background Amina Lawal -- a Muslim woman -- was found guilty by a court in March 2002 after bearing a child outside marriage. Under "Sharia Penal Legislations" now in force in several northern Nigerian states, this was sufficient for her to be convicted of the crime of adultery and summoned to appear before a Sharia tribunal to respond to a "crime" which now carries a punishment of death by stoning according to new "Sharia penal legislations" introduced in Nigeria in 1999. Public Document **************************************** For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org - luckypig Sunday, August 17, 2003 2:33 PM @ A2C Nigerian woman to be stoned to death 8/27/03 CROSS POST WIDELY Amina Lawal ExecutionHearing on AMINA LAWALSET TO BE STONED ON - 27 AUGUST 2003The 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 toher neck and stoned to death. Her death was postponed so that she couldcontinue to nurse her baby. Hearing on her Execution is now set for 27AUGUST 2003.If you haven't been following this case, you might like to know thatAmina's baby is regarded as the 'evidence' of her adultery.Amina's case is being handled by the Spanish branch of AmnestyInternational, which is attempting to put together enough signatures tomake the Nigerian government rescind the death sentence. A similarcampaign saved another Nigerian woman, Safiya, condemned in similarcircumstances. By March 4th the petition had amassed over 2,600,000signatures. It will only take you a few seconds to sign Amnesty's onlinepetition. Please sign the petition now, then copy this message into a newemail and send it to everyone in your address book.Go to the web pagehttp://www.amnesty.org.au/e-card/petition.asp