Womens Economic Rights> UPDATE ON DEATH BY STONING

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Dear networkers,
UPDATE ON DEATH BY STONING IN NIGERIA

We are pleased to inform you that the sentence of Safiya Tungar Tudu has 
generated a great public outcry in Nigeria from individuals, human rights 
groups, women NGO's and even from top government officials.  Our petition was 
reported in the Punch of Monday October 29 2001.
The Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim who happens to be a lawyer has condemmed 
the court decision which sentenced Safiya to death for alleged adultery while 
acquitting her male partner as selective justice.  
The National Human Rights Commission which was set up by the Nigerian 
Government in line with UN resolutions has also promised to intervene in the 
matter and institute legal proceedings against the Sokoto State Government.  At 
the Nigerian Human Rights summit organised by the National Human Rights 
Commission ( NHRC) held in Abuja on the 1st of November 2001, a National Action 
Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was unfolded  in response 
to the recommendation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted 
at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna Austria in 1993.  Under the 
democratic government of President Obasanjo the Human Rights Violation 
Investigation commission (HRVC) was also set up which has been investigating 
over 30 years  of human rights abuse during oppressive military rule in Nigeria.
Women's rights activist Mrs. Abiola Akiyode - Afolabi has initiated a" Safiya 
must not die" campaign,  according  to her, the Islamic law had failed to  to 
demarcate between morality and the law. She called on every state in Nigeria to 
respect the human dignity of every person.
Furthermore the Coordinator of the Women Department Project of  the Committee 
for the Defence of Human Rights Mrs Joke Adisa condemned the ruling in strong 
terms, particularly when the same court had set her accomplice free.The 
organisation called on  the Sokoto State Government and the general public to 
intervene to saving Safiya's child the misfortune of not enjoying parental love 
and care.
We are confident that with this huge public outcry Safiya will not be stoned to 
death, however the legal options available to challenge the validity of that 
law has to be taken.  Women's Rights Watch Legal Aid team are already preparing 
a legal brief and we will keep you informed when the action is filed.
Women's Rights Watch runs a free legal aid clinic for victims of gender 
persecution.  We have been innundated by many cases and our financial resources 
are being stretched to our limits. We request for assistance in our litigation 
department which involves drafting and filing of Writ of Summons, pleadings, 
travelling expenses defence of victims, holding watching briefs, media exposure 
and office administration. You will all agree with me that these activities are 
expensive.  We appreciate your contribution.
Thank you.

 Nogi  Imoukhuede.



Dear Networkers,

find below a report on Safiya culled from the Punch of the 9th November, 2001 
in which an Islamic Law Lecturer analyses the case from another perspectiv e.

DEATH SENTENCE ON SAFIYA, UNISLAMIC - DON

The death sentence by stoning, passed on 31 year old pregnant Safiya Hussaini 
of Sokoto State for alleged adultery, is "violative of her right to life under 
the sharia and her right to human dignity", a senior lecturer a the Ahmadu 
Bello University (ABU) Dr. Mohammed Ladan,has said.
Ladan expressed this view in a lecture he delivered on "Women's rights under 
Sharia in Northern Nigeria:- A case study of Safiya," on Wednesday, in Lagos.
The ABU law lecturer pointed out, however, that the islamic sharia law protects 
women's rights "because they (women) are first, human beings, second, citizens 
of an Islamic state or Muslim Ummah and also because they belong to the 
vulnerable segment of society".
According to him, the verdict is a misapplication of the sharia on the proof of 
adultery, type of punishment and ignorance of the conditions for imposing death 
penalties.
"A charge of adultery against a chaste woman even if true, shall be deemed 
false unless it is supported by four witnesses," he said.
Noting that the constitution is supreme with its provisions having a binding 
force on all authorities and persons throughout Nigeria.
Ladan said that the Safiya issue was a litmus test that could go as far as the 
Supreme Court.