Independent Media Centre Ireland http://www.indymedia.ie

Help save the life of Amina Lawal

national | miscellaneous | news report

Friday September 20, 2002 17:00

by Mags

Sign the petition on-line

Amina Lawal, a Nigerian woman, has been sentenced to death by stoning for having a child out of wedlock She is to buried up to her neck in the ground, after which her punishers will surround her and throw rocks at her head until her skull is crushed and she dies a painful and horrible death.

She has only twenty days to appeal her trial. Please go to the Amnesty International site,

http://www.mertonai.org/amina/

and sign the letter addressed to the President of
Nigeria.

It literally takes only a minute, and could help to save her life, as well as help put an end to this kind of cruel and disgraceful judgement.

Comments (2 of 2)

Justice

by Oliver O'Driscoll

Sat Sep 21, 2002 23:14

Already signed the petition, hope the campaign is successful.

Universal declaration of human rights

by Nora Geraghty - Globalise Resistance

Sun Sep 22, 2002 03:25

I believe that Nigeria is a signatory of this document. Current laws would seem to be in direct contravention.

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

I have quoted only the relevant sections, I urge everyone to read the full declaration and to force your representatives to live by it. All the nations of the UN have agreed to live by this declaration and respect the rights of individuals.