Sudan: Woman sentenced to death by stoning
On 8th December 2001, Abok Alfa Akok a Christian woman
of 18 years of age from the Dinka tribe, was sentenced by the criminal court in
Nyala City, Southern Darfur, to execution by stoning for the crime of
adultery.
The Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG), confirms
that the case has been sent back to the lower court for new sentencing. The
court of appeal ruled at the end of last month that the lower court should give
the defendant a "rebuke" sentence, not capital punishment. Abok Alfa Akok,
appealed on 3 January 2002. She is reportedly still in prison in Nyala. The
Sudanese Ambassador to the US, Khidir Ahmed, on Thursday 7 February 2002
informed Human Rights Watch that the appellate court has rejected the sentence
on Abok and sent the case back to the trial court.
The Sudanese Government has in the past claimed that
its Sharia laws would not be applied to Christians but this case shows
otherwise. The sentence was based on Article 146 of the Sudan's 1991 Penal Code,
which is based upon the government's interpretation of Shari'a (Islamic law),
and which states that whoever commits the offence of adultery shall be punished
with: 1. Execution by stoning when the offender is married (muhsan). 2. One
hundred lashes when the offender is not married (non-muhsan). 3. Male,
non-married offenders may be punished, in addition to whipping, with
expatriation for one year. Her lawyer stated she did not receive a fair trial
and an appeal has been submitted against the sentence.
Source:
Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG)
Posted by:
svtg_cai@link.net
Created by:
Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG)
