PLEASE HELP SAVE AMINA FROM DEATH BY STONING
Amina Lawal's Case - Her Trial and Sentence
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
When unmarried, Amina became
pregnant. Local villagers had her arrested and she was brought before a
Regional Court where she was charged with the crime of adultery with no legal
representation and there are serious questions about whether the nature of
the charges was
adequately explained to her.
Under the Katsina regional law, admitting to having a baby amounts to a confession to the crime of adultery. As in the case of Safiya Hussaini, the man identified as Amina's partner - the alleged father of her baby daughter - was released. The court said there was insufficient evidence against him.
For him to be convicted, he must either confess, or 4 other men must testify that they witnessed the adultery.
With the help of a Nigerian women's rights group, Amina has appealed against the sentence. After several adjournments, the appeal was rejected on Monday, August 19. A new appeal at a higher court has been lodged.
Victims of Poverty
Like Safiya, Amina comes from an impoverished background. Both were married in their early teens (12 and 14 respectively) only to be divorced at a later stage and left to raise their children by themselves.
The softly spoken and largely unschooled Lawal told AFP that her main worries were the strain the case was putting on her parents and what would happen to her baby daughter Wasila if she is put to death.
Women's and Human Rights
organisations in Nigeria have already highlighted the emerging pattern of
people from poor backgrounds - particularly women - being the victims of
cruel, inhumane and discriminatory sentences introduced by Regional laws
in the states of northern Nigeria.
Amina's Fundamental Human Rights
In Nigeria, laws can be introduced by Regional States which may be contrary
to Federal Nigerian Law. Under the Regional Law of Katsina State, a death
sentence can be imposed on any man or woman who has sex outside of marriage.
Under Federal Nigerian law,
Amina has the right to have her life and personal dignity respected.
This right is enshrined in
the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which confirms the sanctity of human life.
This right is also recognised by all the international and regional human
rights declarations and conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.
These cases created a political storm in Nigeria. The Nigerian Federal Government recognises that laws which discriminate against women are unacceptable, and that the death penalty is inhumane and inappropriate.
A week before Safiya's acquittal the Federal Minister of Justice wrote to Regional authorities to declare that these penalties are a contravention of the Nigerian constitution.
However, the Nigerian Constitution also protects individual States - such as Katsina State- from interference by the Nigerian Federal Government. Leaders of the Northern states have yet to respond in a positive manner to the Federal government's declaration.
Early hopes that the close alliance between Federal Government and the Governor of Katsina State would result in a positive outcome for Amina were dashed recently. A spokesperson for the Katsina State authorities, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said that the Governor would not intefere in the appeal process, and predicted that if the appeal was turned down, Amina Lawal would be executed.
"If the appeal court confirms her as guilty, she will be executed," he said.
This will entail burying
Amina up to her waist and stoning her until she is dead.
What can YOU do to help At
this critical stage, it is of crucial importance to build on the successful
campaign that recently saved another Nigerian woman from stoning.
It is vital that the Nigerian Federal Government is given support to fulfil its human rights commitments.
People from all round the world can play their part in encouraging Nigeria to do the right thing: to end inhumane and cruel sentences in its territory and to ensure human rights for all Nigerians.
You can help make a difference by encouraging the Nigerian government to focus on delivering its pledges to its own people and to the international community by writing to both the Nigerian and local politicians.
PLEASE WRITE TO:
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
State Governor
Government House
Katsina
Katsina State
Nigeria
PLEASE ALSO WRITE TO YOUR LOCAL NIGERIAN
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR MISSIONS:
CANADA
High Commissioner: Amb. Dare Bejide
Nigeria High Commission
295 Metcalf street, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada K2P 1R9
Tel: 1 (613) 236-0521, 1 (613) 236-0522, 1 (613) 236-0523
Fax: (613) 236-0523 Telex:
053-3285 NIGERIA OTT
E-mail: hc@nigeriahighcommottawa.com
Website: www.nigeriahighcommottawa.com
U.K.
NIGERIA High Commission
9 Northumberland Avenue
London WC2N
P.O. Box: 29041, London WC2N 5QJ
Tel: 44-207 8391244, 8391244 78398749
Fax: 44-207 8398746
Telex: 23665
High Commissioner: Amb. Bola Ajibola
Consular Affairs Annex
56/57 Fleet Street, London EC47 IBT
Tel: 44-020 735 33776, 44-020 73532401
Fax: 44-020 735 32401 Telex: 916814
Website: www.nigeriahouseuk.com
AMERICA
Consul-General: Mr. I.C. Keshi
Consulate-General of Nigeria
4488 North Shallowford Road,
Suite 100, Atlanta, GA. 30338, U.S.A
Tel: 01-770-394-6261, 01-770-394-6237, 01-770-394-5245
Fax: 01-770-394-4671
E-mail: info@nigeria-consulateatl.org
Consulate General of Nigeria
828 Second Avenue, New York,
Tel: 1-212-808-0301
Consul-General: Mr. T.O. Oseni
Perm. Representative: Amb. A. Mbanefo
Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nation
828 Second Avenue, N.Y., N.Y. 10017
Tel: 1-212-953-9130, (212) 697-7189
Fax: 1-212-697-1970, (212) 697-7189
H/M: (Prof.) Jibril Aminu
Embassy of Nigeria
1333 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036- U.S.A
Tel: 01-202-986-8400, 01-202-822-1500
Fax: 01-202-775-1385, 01-202-986-8449
Other
Phone/Fax: 01-202-462-7124, 01-202-986-4554 Telex; 64208
E-mail: embassyinfo@nigeria-government.com
AUSTRALIA
High Commissioner: Amb. R.R Soule
Nigerian High Commission
N0. 5 Callemonda Rise
O’MALLY ACT 2606
P.O. Box 241, Civic Square ACT 2608
Canberra, Australia
Tel: 61-2-6286 1322, 61-2-6286 1044,
61-2-6286 1966 Fax: 61-2-6286 5332
Telex: NIGCBN AA 62778
E-mail: nigeria@dynamite.com.au
| MORE NIGERIAN DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR MISSIONS ABROAD |
Amina Lawal holding her daughter Wasila
"We hereby uphold the judgment of the (lower) Bakori court
that decreed that you be sentenced to death by stoning,"
- President of the Funtua appeal court Monday Aug 19, 2002.
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April 24, 2005
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