Nigerian mother Amina Lawal appeals Sharia stoning sentence

AFP ^ | Aug. 27, 2003

[Alouette]

KATSINA, Nigeria (AFP) - Single mother Amina Lawal launched an appeal against an adultery conviction that could see her become the first Nigerian to be stoned to death since the return of Islamic law.

The 31-year-old village housewife has become the best known symbol around the world of the controversy surrounding the reintroduction in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north of the strict Sharia criminal law code.

On Wednesday she was back in the spotlight once again, cradling her baby daughter Wasila in Katsina State's Sharia Appeal Court before a five-strong bench of senior judges decked out in white robes and turbans.

"This case involves life and has been prolonged, so we don't have time for more delays," Katsina's top Islamic legal authority, Grand Khadi Aminu Ibrahim, told the packed courtroom.

"It's good that Amina should know her fate. She will be either stoned or acquitted. It's not right to keep her in suspense for so long," he added.

Under Sharia, a divorced person who has sex before he or she remarries can be found guilty of adultery, and thus face death.

Last year Lawal was denounced by fellow villagers in the Katsina farming community of Kurami after she gave birth to Wasila more than two years after splitting from her husband.

She was convicted in March last year and lost her first appeal in August. Her photo was flashed around the world and her fate inspired Internet campaigns, women's rights protests and candle-lit vigils.

On Wednesday, however, defence counsel Aliyu Musa Yawuri focussed on challenging her conviction under the terms of Sharia, not on fighting the controversial legal system itself.

He argued that the village court which convicted her had not properly explained the offence or its consequences before her alleged confession.

He also said that the baby had been conceived before Sharia law was formally enacted in Katsina State.

Lawal gave birth on January 6 last year, more than two years after her divorce but only six-and-a-half months after Katsina reinstituted Sharia.

The defence also argued that, under Islamic law, the pregnancy could have been the result of a so-called "sleeping embryo".

"Amina gave birth within two years of divorce, so the presumption is that the child belongs to her former husband," he said, arguing that Sharia recognises that an embryo can lie dormant for up to five years.

"Because of these arguments we call on this court to grant the prayers of my client and throw out the death sentence imposed on her by the two lower courts," Yawuri concluded.

The prosecution requested and was given a one hour adjournment to consider its response. It was not clear whether a verdict would be given later Wednesday or whether it could be postponed once more.

Around 35 armed police were deployed around the building, but there was no sign of impending trouble.

Amina sat impassively through most of the proceedings. She was wearing a deep purple headscarf and an elegant green dress given her by her lawyer and friend Hauwa Ibrahim, who was also present along with senior counsel.

But she appeared close to tears when press photographers crowded in, and family members said the young Muslim woman was under severe stress.

"Amina is deeply worried. Sometimes she can't even eat. She's anxious to see the end of this case so that she can marry and have a normal life," said the defendant's uncle, 50-year-old farmer Magaji Liman.

Lawal's case has become an embarrassment for Nigeria's secular federal government and for President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has tried to reassure foreign protesters without offending Nigerian Muslims.

No one has yet been stoned since 12 mainly Muslim northern states seized upon the end of military rule in 1999 to begin invoking Islamic law for the first time since the west African country won independence in 1960.

But some thieves have had their hands amputated, and several others have been sentenced to be stoned for various "sex crimes".

Lawal's appeal has come to be seen by many as a test case, as Nigerian federal officials have said that they can not challenge Sharia unless an individual appeals to the Supreme Court.

[Nonstatist]

Stinkin barbarians.

[wideawake]

arguing that Sharia recognises that an embryo can lie dormant for up to five years

The more I learn about Islam the more intimidatingly stupid it seems.

[Thane_Banquo]

Islam=evil.

[Tired of Taxes]

It's so sad, to think this woman may die a horrific death, and her baby will be without a mother.

Islam is peace... Islam is peace... Islam is peace...

Yeah, right.

[wideawake]

Look at that adorable little girl. I shudder for her future among these animals.

[wretchard]

This Nigerian case is a trailer of the movie coming to a theater near you: 'Sharia in America'. The movie has not yet beens scheduled for release, but is in the last stages of pre-production. Liberals are purchasing advance tickets in droves. Even though the final cut is not out yet, nearly every Leftist intellectual is breathlessly awaiting the release of this masterpiece. The final cut is said to include stonings, hand choppings, tramplings, decapitations, execution by burial, whipping and eye-gouging. One particularly zany scene shows a man facing the camera before his throat is slit, saying 'I am a Jew and my mother was a Jew'. "A film for the whole family", one Berkeley film critic said, after seeing the trailer with his same-sex partner.

The liberals are so smart.

[blackdog]

Those darned sleeping embryos again! Nothing worse than soporific cell division.

I am completely serious when I say the west needs to turn it's back on Islamic nations for another hundred years. Sorry Israel, Turkey, and Egypt. Location, location, location.

[Tacis]

What is the purpose of having this woman smoke a lot of pot?

[Trident/Delta]

Ah, I don't think that you understand Sharia... the child, a "gift" of adultery, gets stoned too...

Semper Fi

[Imagine]

ISLAM SOLUTION

Islam is NOT a religion
– it is a CULT OF HATE

ACTION PLAN:

1) Assemble fleet of troop transport vessels in port cities; 2) move, via bus and/or train all US dwelling Muslims (immigrant or American Born Muslims ABM) to said ports; 3) Load all muslims onto ships, send forthwith to any middle east muslim country; 4) Bulldoze all mosques and islamic schools in US; 5) Concurrently, close borders with military; 6) Pop any American brewed beer, gloat over job well accomplished and relax.

[freepatriot32]

someone needs to blow up the pics of her and her child to poster size and camp out in front of the white house were george bush can see them then maybe he will stop the sychophantic a$$kissing of all the muslims and thier religion of "peace"

[PleaseNoMore]

Is this true? They would stone the child to death too?

[Gritty]

This woman is probably toast. Sharia Law is not known for it's mercy toward adulterous women, whether they are actually adulterous or not.

When stoning somebody under Sharia Law, apparently the stones are supposed to be the size of a fist. The execution is usually a painful, drawn-out affair, as Sharia Law forbids stone-throwers to aim for the head. That makes it a long time for a-dyin' while the body and limbs are reduced to broken jelly.

Nice religion. Anybody want Sharia Law to replace our own? That's what is store if Islam takes over the USA. Maybe somebody ought to clue in our own anti-war people what lies down the road for them if we lose the war?

[Alouette]

Video of an actual stoning

WARNING: NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH.

[Let's Roll]

Yes, but it's a belief that can come in handy as in the times when members of some influential family could be so inconveniently convicted of adultery, infidelity etc. if they couldn't fall back on the dormant embryo defense.

[cyborg]

Oh come on! Don't you know that Sudan and Saudi Arabia are OUR FRIENDS?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kaiwen]

No, the child doesn't get stoned. In fact, the mother doesn't get stoned until the child is weaned.

[Trident/Delta]

Depends on the sect. There are different Sharia requirements for each of the various and sundry sects, plus, the "court" metes out the sentence based on their "interpretation" of the Quran. Just because it may run against your belief system, don't think that these animals are above stoning a baby. I have lived and worked among them, You can not even begin to imagine the depths of depravity that a Sharia can foment.

Semper Fi

[freepatriot32]

yes thats right now i remember it was just so hard for me to remember seeing as how 15 of the hijackers were from saudi arabia and how they let idi amin die of old age in thier country instead of turning him over to a war crimes tribunal and etc etc etc and nausium

with friernds like this who needs enemas :-)