Source:

Woman, who got pregnant after being raped, sentenced to death according to Sharia law; international protests [ID 14783]

A woman who became pregnant after a rape faces sentence of death according to Sharia; international protests

"Wegen Ehebruchs hat ein islamisches Gericht in Nigeria eine 35-jährige Frau zum Tod durch Steinigung verurteilt; die junge Frau wurde nach eigenen Angaben von einem Freund ihres Vaters vergewaltigt und geschwängert."

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Testimony of women and non-Muslims usually was accorded less weight then testimony of Muslim men in Sharia courts ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23159]

"There were no legal provisions barring women or other groups from testifying in civil or criminal proceedings or giving their testimony less weight, but the testimony of women and non‑Muslims usually was accorded less weight in Shari'a courts. Some "qadis" (Shari'a court judges) allowed separate evidentiary requirements to prove adultery or fornication for male and female defendants. For women, the incidence of pregnancy, which customarily is disallowable as evidence, was deemed permissible in some Shari'a courts. By contrast, men could only be convicted by confessing to the crime or by eyewitness testimony. However, Shari'a courts did provide women with some benefits, including increased access to divorce, child custody, and alimony, because it was significantly easier, faster, and cheaper to get an audience in a Shari'a court."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

In the northern states a cultural practice called Purdah restricts movement of women during the day ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23741]

"Purdah, the cultural practice of secluding women and pubescent girls from unrelated men, continued in various parts of the north. Although women's movement was restricted during daylight hours, many women pursued economic and social activities outside the home in the evening."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

In the northern states with Sharia law the separation of men and women in different areas is compulsory ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23742]

"Women in the 12 northern states were affected to varying degrees by Shari'a. In Zamfara State local governments enforced laws requiring the separation of Muslim men and women in transportation and health care. Kano State's 2005 ban prohibiting commercial motorcycle taxis from taking women as passengers continued. The state government did not cite any specific Koranic references in announcing the ban. However, non‑Muslim women were not affected by the ban, and the state government purchased motorcarriages (similar to motorized rickshaws) for the use of Muslim women. Bauchi, Niger, and Zamfara states offered similar transportation options."

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

The manner in which Sharia is applied discriminates against women, particularly in adultery cases ("World Report 2008") [ID 22266]

"The manner in which Sharia is applied discriminates against women, particularly in adultery cases where standards of evidence differ based on the sex of the accused."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Civil society groups alleged that in some Shari'a courts women are applied harsher penalties than men and that stronger evidence is requiered to convict men than to convict women ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21271]

"In Zamfara State, a Shari'a court must hear all criminal cases involving Muslims. Other states, including Niger and Kano States, that utilize the Shari'a legal system permit Muslims to choose common law courts for criminal cases. Civil society groups alleged that some Qadis apply harsher penalties in adultery and fornication cases against women than in commensurate cases against men and require stronger evidence to convict men than to convict women. The courts did not prosecute any known cases of adultery or fornication during the reporting period.

There are no laws barring women or any groups from testifying in common law courts or that give less weight to their testimony; however, Shari'a courts usually accord less weight to the testimony of women and non-Muslims."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Zamfara State: Separation of men and women in the transportation and health care sectors enforced by laws; only Muslim women were subjected to the ban ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21303]

"In Zamfara State, local governments citing religious sensibilities enforced laws requiring the separation of men and women in the transportation and health care sectors. The bans on mixed gender transportation did not appear to extend to private vehicles. The 2005 Kano State ban prohibiting commercial motorcycle taxis from taking women as passengers continued during the reporting period. The Kano State Shari'a Implementation Council cited repeated complaints by female residents of Kano as the impetus for the ban. Only Muslim women were subjected to the ban, as motorcycle taxis continued to offer rides to non-Muslim female passengers. In response to the need for adequate transport for women, Kano State purchased Indian-style motor carriages for Muslim female transport. Several other northern states and the FCT also use these carriages."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

In the 12 northern states women were affected to varying degrees by Shari'a law ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19938]

"Women in the 12 northern states were affected to varying degrees by Shari'a. In Zamfara State local governments enforced laws requiring the separation of Muslim men and women in transportation and health care. Kano State's 2005 ban prohibiting commercial motorcycle taxis from taking women as passengers continued during the reporting period. The state government did not cite any specific Koranic references in announcing the ban. Both Muslim and non-Muslim women were affected by the ban."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

In Zamfara State all criminal cases involving Muslims must be heard by a Shari'a court; in adultery and fornication cases sometimes harsher penalties are applied against women ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17757]

"In Zamfara State, all criminal cases involving Muslims must be heard by a Shari'a court. Other states utilizing Shari'a law permit Muslims to choose secular courts for criminal cases; however, societal pressure compelled most Muslims to use the Shari'a court system. Some kadis (Shari'a judges) apply harsher penalties in adultery and fornication cases against women than in such cases against men and require stronger evidence to convict men than to convict women. While this legal standard still existed, there was less controversy surrounding specific Shari'a cases in the reporting period than during previous periods. No specific cases of adultery or fornication were known to have been prosecuted during the reporting period. There are no laws barring women or any groups from testifying in secular court or that give less weight to their testimony; however, the testimony of women and non-Muslims usually is accorded less weight in Shari'a courts."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Kano state: Since May 2005 motorcycle taxis are not allowed to take women as passengers as this is contrary to Sharia ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17798]

"Kano State announced in May 2005 that commercial motorcycle taxis could no longer take women as passengers because, it claimed, the transport of women on motorcycles was contrary to Shari'a. The state government did not cite any specific Qur'anic references in announcing the ban. Both Muslim and non-Muslim women were affected by the ban. Zamfara State continued to enforce gender-segregated public transportation such as minibuses and motorcycle taxis. The bans on mixed gender transportation did not appear to extend to private vehicles."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Bauchi State: In December 2004 conviction of a woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery 3 months earlier was overturned for lack of evidence ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17800]

"In September 2004 in Bauchi State, Daso Adamu, a nursing mother, was sentenced to death by stoning when she initially admitted to having sex with her first husband after her second husband absconded. The man was freed for lack of evidence. In October 2004 she was released on bail on the grounds that she was breastfeeding. In December 2004 a Shari'a appeals court vacated the conviction and sentence, ruling that her pregnancy was insufficient evidence to convict her. In October 2004 in Bauchi State, Hajara Ibrahim was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery after becoming pregnant outside of wedlock. According to the Shari'a court that convicted her, she confessed to having sex with a man who had promised to marry her. The man denied meeting her and was released for lack of evidence. The defendant appealed the sentence, stating that she should have been charged with the lesser crime of fornication, rather than adultery. In November 2005 a Shari'a appeals court overturned the conviction and sentence, ruling that she had never consummated an arranged marriage and therefore should never have been charged with adultery. It appeared that the prosecution in the case had not pursued the fornication charge subsequent to the court's ruling."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Minna: In September 2005 2 students were injured in a quarrel over Sharia dress code at University ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17811]

"In September 2005 a student quarrel occurred at the University of Minna over respect for the generally observed Shari'a dress code in which two female non-Muslim students and several males were reportedly injured. Details of how the conflict started were not available."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Women affected to varying degrees by Shari'a in the 12 Northern states ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17418]

"Women were affected to varying degrees by Shari'a in the 12 northern states. In Zamfara State, local governments enforced laws requiring the separation of Muslim men and women in transportation and health care. Kano State announced in May that commercial motorcycle taxis could no longer take women as passengers because, it claimed, the transport of women on motorcycles was contrary to Shari'a. The state government did not cite any specific Koranic references in announcing the ban. Both Muslim and non-Muslim women were affected by the ban."

Document(s): Open document

08.11.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Harsher penalties against in adultery and fornication cases against women than against men ("International Religious Freedom Report 2005") [#38877],  [ID 14769]

"In Zamfara State, all criminal cases involving Muslims must be heard by a Shari'a court. Other states with Shari'a law permit Muslims to choose secular courts for criminal cases; however, societal pressure compelled most Muslims to use the Shari'a court system. There were complaints that some Kadis (Shari'a judges) applied harsher penalties in adultery and fornication cases against women than in such cases against men and that stronger evidence was required to convict men than to convict women.

There are no laws barring women or any groups from testifying in secular court or that give less weight to their testimony; however, the testimony of women and non-Muslims usually is accorded less weight in Shari'a courts.

In the north, there is a long tradition of separating schoolchildren according to gender. Some form of gender segregation occurred in many secondary schools in the north. In December, the Kano State Commissioner of Education announced that public and private school pupils should observe "decent standards of dress," although non-Muslim girls would not be required to wear the hijab headscarf."

Document(s): Open document

08.2004 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Sharia law and women ("Nigeria - Länderbericht") [#28135],  [ID 14770]

"Neue Gesetzesvorschriften der Scharia-Rechtsprechung kriminalisieren den Straftatbestand der Unzucht unter der Bezeichnung Zina. Zina wird als sexueller Verkehr mit einer Person definiert, über die der Täter „keine sexuellen Rechte hat“ und unter Umständen „in denen keine Zweifel über die Illegalität des Aktes“ bestehen (AI 2004, Nigeria, 1.1).

Wie Amnesty International berichtet, erweisen sich Gerichtsverfahren mit diesem Straftatbestand als äußerst parteiisch; Frauen sind häufig in ihrer Verteidigung aufgrund der erschwerenden Beweisregeln
eingeschränkt (AI 2004, Nigeria). Dies veranschaulicht auch das Urteil eines Scharia-Gerichts in folgendem Fall: in Alkaleri, Bauchi State, wird ein Mann wegen Vergewaltigung und Schwängerung seiner 15-jährigen
Tochter schuldig gesprochen und zur Steinigung verurteilt. Gleichzeitig jedoch verurteilt das Gericht auch das Mädchen zu 100 Stockschlägen (The Independent 15. Januar 2004).

Der Vorwurf der Unzucht wird mit dem Vorliegen einer Schwangerschaft als bewiesen angesehen. Die Frau kann kaum eine Vergewaltigung geltend machen, da sie 4 Zeugen benötigen würde, um ihre Beschuldigung zu belegen. Männer würden hingegen ohne Augenzeugen nur verurteilt, wenn sie geständig wären. Erst 2002 wurde der erste Mann dieses Vergehens schuldig gesprochen. Sofern ein Mann die Vaterschaft abstreitet, ist die Frau auch nicht berechtigt einen Vaterschaftstest zu verlangen. Scharia-Gerichte erkennen Vaterschaftstests in der Regel auch nicht an (AI 2004, Nigeria – Women 5.7; USDOS 2004, 1.e.).

Ehebruch wird in Nordnigeria meist mit Steinigung, vorehelicher Geschlechtsverkehr mit Auspeitschung bestraft (USDOS 2004, 1.e.; SFH 2002, S 16-18). Wie Amnesty International berichtet, werden sogenannte
Zina Delikte, also Straftaten mit sexuellem Hintergrund, seit 2003 obligatorisch mit der Steinigung geahndet. Über die geographische Reichweite dieser Verschärfung äußert sich AI allerdings nicht (AI 2004,
Nigeria).

Die Scharia behandelt Frauen grundsätzlich deutlich anders als Männer (siehe auch Abschnitt Frauen, Kapitel 9). Zeugenaussagen von Frauen wiegen in einigen Fällen nur etwa halb so viel wie jene von Männern (USDOS IRF 2003, Section 1).

Wie das Center for Religious Freedom (Freedom House) berichtet, wurden Frauen im Norden Nigerias der Prostitution angeklagt, da sie im Alter von über 13 Jahren noch nicht verheiratet waren. Im Bauchi State
wurden unverheiratete Frauen aufgefordert, sich sofort zu verheiraten oder andernfalls inhaftiert zu werden. Ein Richter befahl vier der angeklagten Frauen, sich einen Ehemann aus dem Gerichtssaal zu
wählen (CRF 3. Februar 2004).

Alleinstehenden Frauen ist es in einigen Gliedstaaten (Sokoto, Kano und Zamfara) untersagt ein Haus zu mieten (Marshall 2002, 35). In einigen Gliedstaaten wurde auch die Geschlechtertrennung (in Schulen,
Spitälern, öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln etc.) eingeführt (SFH 2002, S. 16-18)."

Document(s): Open document

08.2004 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Amina Lawal ("Nigeria - Länderbericht") [#28135],  [ID 14771]

"Amina Lawal war im März 2002 von einem Scharia-Gericht in Bakori zum Tode verurteilt worden, weil sie nach ihrer Scheidung von einem anderen Mann ein Kind bekam. Sie wurde eines Zina Vergehens für
schuldig befunden. Der Vater des Kindes wurde nicht belangt. Der Einspruch am Scharia-Appelationsgericht blieb vorerst erfolglos. Erst am 25. September 2003 wurde vom Upper Sharia Court of Appeal ein
Freispruch erwirkt. Dieser gründete jedoch nicht in der Unrechtmäßigkeit der Bestrafung, als vielmehr in technischen Unzulänglichkeiten des Verfahrens. Das Geständnis von Lawal wurde als ungültig beurteilt und
galt somit nicht als Beweis für das Vergehen. Wie Amnesty International nachweist, hatte das Verfahren nicht den Standards eines fairen Verfahrens genügt (FAZ 26. September 2003; AI 2004, Nigeria; AI 2004
Nigeria - Women)."

Document(s): Open document

27.08.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

The case of Amina Lawal ("Nigeria: Amina Lawal's appeal case adjourned again to 25 September") [#15509],  [ID 14772]

"Amina Lawal, aged 30, was sentenced on 22 March to stoning to death for adultery by a Sharia court at Bakori, Katsina State. She allegedly confessed at her first trial to having had a child while divorced. On 19 August the Sharia Court of Appeal in Funtua, Katsina State, upheld the death sentence. Amina Lawal's appeal against the sentence to the Upper Sharia Court of Appeal of Katsina was still pending at the end of the year. Amina Lawal's case was the subject of a worldwide campaign by several non-governmental organizations, including AI, against death sentences and cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments passed by Sharia courts in northern Nigeria.
On 25 March the Sharia Court of Appeal of Sokoto State ordered the acquittal of Safiya Yakubu Hussaini, who was facing death by stoning for adultery. She had been sentenced to death in October 2001 by a Sharia court in Gwadabawa, Sokoto State."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Conflicting statements of the Nigerian authorities on the death penalties by stoning issued by Sharia courts ("Annual Report 2003") [#13067],  [ID 14773]

"Sharia courts sentenced several people to cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments. Dozens of people were sentenced to have their hands amputated for theft or armed robbery and to flogging for fornication, consumption of alcohol and other offences. The sentences were passed in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Kebbi, Bauchi, Kaduna, Jigawa and other northern states. At least three sentences of flogging or amputation were carried out in Zamfara and Bauchi States."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2002") [#11802],  [ID 14774]

"In Zamfara State, local governments instituted laws requiring the separation of Muslim men and women in transportation and health care. In violation of mainstream Shari'a jurisprudence, some Alkali judges subjected women to harsh sentences for fornication or adultery based solely upon the fact of pregnancy, while men were not convicted without eyewitnesses unless they confessed.
Purdah, the Islamic practice of keeping girls and women in seclusion from men outside the family, continued in parts of the country, which restricted the freedom of movement of women. Shari'a personal law protects widows' property rights.Women were affected to varying degrees by the adoption of various forms of Shari'a law in 12 northern states."

Document(s): Open document

08.10.2002 - Source: BBC News

Couple sentenced to death by stoning for adultery ("No respite for Nigeria stoning couple") [#8873],  [ID 15170]

Document(s): Open document

07.10.2002 - Source: US Department of State

Nigerian Sharia discriminates against women ("International Religious Freedom Report 2002") [#8895],  [ID 14776]

"In Zamfara State, laws proposed during the period covered by this report included a dress code for women that bans short skirts and trousers, the mandatory closing of shops on Fridays, and a ban of video rental clubs. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) branch in Zamfara State has protested these new laws to the Zamfara state government. Reportedly they were told that the first law was proposed on public decency grounds, and that the second law only would apply to Muslim businesses. The laws were not enacted by the end of the period covered by this report. [...] In apparent violation of traditional Shari'a jurisprudence, some Alkalis judges denied the same level of Shari'a criminal protection to women that they provide to men.

There are no legal provisions barring women or other groups from testifying in civil court or giving their testimony less weight; however, the testimony of women and non-Muslims usually is accorded less weight in Shari'a courts. For example, if one woman testifies, a second woman also must provide testimony to equal the weight of the testimony of one man."

Document(s): Open document

07.10.2002 - Source: US Department of State

Nigerian Sharia discriminates against women ("International Religious Freedom Report 2002") [#8895],  [ID 15172]

"In Zamfara State, laws proposed during the period covered by this report included a dress code for women that bans short skirts and trousers, the mandatory closing of shops on Fridays, and a ban of video rental clubs. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) branch in Zamfara State has protested these new laws to the Zamfara state government. Reportedly they were told that the first law was proposed on public decency grounds, and that the second law only would apply to Muslim businesses. The laws were not enacted by the end of the period covered by this report. [...] In apparent violation of traditional Shari'a jurisprudence, some Alkalis judges denied the same level of Shari'a criminal protection to women that they provide to men.

There are no legal provisions barring women or other groups from testifying in civil court or giving their testimony less weight; however, the testimony of women and non-Muslims usually is accorded less weight in Shari'a courts. For example, if one woman testifies, a second woman also must provide testimony to equal the weight of the testimony of one man."

Document(s): Open document

26.08.2002 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Administration of juvenile justice under Sharia [ID 14777]

"The recent introduction of Islamic or Shari'ah law in parts of northern Nigeria has created new deficiencies in the administration of juvenile justice. Under Shari'ah, the age of criminal responsibility is taken to be either 18 years or puberty. In cases involving fornication or adultery, which may attract flogging or the death penalty respectively, the age of responsibility is set at 15. The implication is that, in cases where children reach puberty earlier than 18 years, no distinction is made between them and adults in dispensing Shari'ah punishments.
In January 2001, a young girl, Bariya Ibrahim Magazu, whose age was variously put at between 13 and 17 years, was subjected to 100 strokes of the cane in public in Zamfara State, after she gave birth to a child without being married."

Document(s): Open document

19.08.2002 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Death sentence by stoning for adultery upheld by the appeals court in Katsina state ("Nigeria: Islamic court upholds death-by-stoning sentence") [#8352],  [ID 14778]

"An Islamic appeal court in Katsina State, northern Nigeria, on Monday upheld a death sentence imposed by a lower court on a woman found guilty of adultery.
Amina Lawal (30) was sentenced to death by stoning in March by a Sharia court in the small town of Bakori for giving birth out of wedlock. A man she identified as the father of the baby was discharged for want of evidence.
"We hereby uphold the judgment of the Bakori Sharia court that you be sentenced to death by stoning," said Abdullahi Aliyu Katsina, president of the Upper Sharia Court, who presided over the appeal in the larger town of Funtua.
The judge also maintained a preliminary ruling, issued earlier by the court, that the execution of the sentence would be postponed by 18 months, by which time Lawal’s eight-month-old baby would have been weaned."

Document(s): Open document

10.06.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Discriminating control of evidence and types of punishment in Sharia law have negative impact on women ("Nordnigeria, Update Mai 2002 ") [#8103],  [ID 14779]

Discriminatory rules of evidence and punishment under Sharia jurisprudence negatively impact women

"Gewisse Strafbestände und angewendete Regelungen im Rahmen der Ausweitung der Sharia-Rechtsprechung betreffen spezifisch Frauen. So können in der Praxis ihre Zeugenaussagen weniger Wert haben als solche, die von Männern abgegeben werden. (…) Es handelte sich vor allem um Fälle, die den vorehelichen Geschlechtsverkehr oder Ehebruch betrafen, Strafbestände also, die gemäss Sharia in die Kategorie der Unzucht fallen und somit Hudud Delikte sind. Deshalb sollten die Anforderungen an das Beweismass für eine Verurteilung entsprechend hoch sein. (…)Häufig wurde eine Schwangerschaft als Beweis für das begangene Vergehen akzeptiert. Dies hat auch Auswirkungen für den Strafbestand des Ehebruchs, da eine in Scheidung lebende Frau, die Geschlechtsverkehr hat, gemäss gewisser Rechtsauslegung als Ehebrecherin angesehen wird. Obwohl die der Unzucht angeklagten Frauen häufig eine Vergewaltigung geltend machten, reichte diese Argumentation für einen Freispruch nicht aus, da vier Zeugen nötig sind, um ihre Beschuldigungen zu belegen. Für diese Frauen besteht vielmehr das Risiko einer zusätzlichen Strafe wegen falscher Beschuldigung in Form von Peitschenhieben. (…)Ehebruch wird in der nordnigerianischen Sharia-Rechtsprechung meist mit Steinigung bestraft und vorehelicher Geschlechtsverkehr mit Auspeitschen. Es gibt Berichte über den Vollzug solcher Strafen auch an Minderjährigen, obwohl die Hudud für Minderjährige nicht gelten."

Document(s): Open document

10.06.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Sharia has been introduced into the penal codes of 12 northern federal states; divergent interpretations of Sharia law ("Nordnigeria, Update Mai 2002 ") [#8103],  [ID 15174]

Document(s): Open document

26.03.2002 - Source: BBC News

BBC: Sharia court frees woman charged with adultery ("Nigeria in crisis over Sharia law") [#6103],  [ID 14780]

"The Nigerian Government is coming under increasing international pressure to amend laws in northern Muslim areas which call for punishments such as stoning, amputation and flogging. Although one woman, Safiya Huseini, won her appeal on Monday against a sentence of death by stoning for committing adultery, another has now been sentenced to the same punishment. Amina Lawal is from the small village of Kurami in Katsina, another of the northern Muslim states to have adopted the strict Sharia legal system."

Document(s): Open document

25.03.2002 - Source: Amnesty International

Sharia discriminates on gender basis ("BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights and Amnesty International Joint statement on the implementation of new Sharia-based penal codes in northern Nigeria") [#6066],  [ID 14781]

"Discrimination on grounds of gender: Under the Maliki school of thought, which dominates the interpretation of Sharia in northern Nigeria, pregnancy is considered sufficient evidence to condemn a woman for Zina, an offence which is to be read as adultery or as voluntary premarital sexual intercourse. The oath of the man denying having had sexual intercourse with the woman is often considered sufficient proof of innocence unless four independent and reputable eye-witnesses declare his involvement in the act of voluntary sexual intercourse. Safiya Hussaini was sentenced to death in her first trial for adultery on the basis of her pregnancy.
Based on the cases of Bariya Ibrahim Magazu and Safiya Hussaini, Baobab for Women's human rights and Amnesty International emphasise that Sharia Law as practised in the northern states of Nigeria, does not protect women from possible sexual assault and coercion, instead it is willing to punish the victims of such assault. In both cases the Court has not pursued the allegations of coercion. The clear implication of this decision is that men violate and rape girls and women with impunity as long as they make sure that there are no witnesses of their crime. On the other hand, women and girls who are victims of rape or coercion have their situation further compounded. They will be subjected to charges of Zina and false accusation. This clearly violates women's rights, justice and security while protecting those men who harrass, molest and rape women and girls."

Document(s): Open document

24.01.2002 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

17-year-old woman charged with adultery and sentenced to death by stoning acquitted by Islamic court in northern Nigerian state of Sokoto ("Nigeria: Sharia court frees woman charged with adultery") [#5406],  [ID 14782]

Document(s): Open document

03.12.2001 - Source: BBC News

Woman sentenced to be stoned to death despite saying she was raped ("Nigeria death sentence reprieve") [#4930],  [ID 14784]

Document(s): Open document

23.10.2001 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Gwadabawa, Sokoto State: Woman sentenced to death by Islamic court for having pre-marital sex ("Nigeria: Woman Sentenced to Death Under Sharia") [#4501],  [ID 14785]

"The Islamic court in Gwadabawa, Sokoto State, in northern Nigeria sentenced Ms. Tungar-Tudu to death after finding her guilty of having pre-marital sex, a punishable offense under Sharia law. Ms. Tungar-Tudu, who is pregnant, has until November 8 to file an appeal. The court's ruling is pending approval by the governor of Sokoto State after which a date to mete out the punishment will be fixed. The man she allegedly had sex with was set free by the same court after concluding that it lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute him for the alleged adultery."

Document(s): Open document

14.08.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

IRIN: 20-year-old woman sentenced to 100 lashes by Islamic court ("Woman to receive 100 lashes") [#3511],  [ID 14786]

"A Sharia court in Nigeria's Zamfara State has sentenced a woman, Amina Abdullahi, to 100 lashes for having an extramarital affair, BBC reported. Zamfara is one of 10 northern states that have adopted the Islamic legal code that allows sentences such as lashing and amputation."

Document(s): 00552nig.htm
Open document