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| Africa: Subsaharan |
| Nigerian court overturns Islamic stoning sentence |
| 2004-11-11 |
| A Nigerian Islamic appeal court on Wednesday freed a pregnant woman sentenced to be stoned to death for having sex out of wedlock. Judge Mohammed Mustapha Umar said the conviction of 29-year-old Hajara Ibrahim by the Lere lower court was unsound and set the woman free. "Thank God it is all over now. I wish myself a safe delivery," said a six-month pregnant Ibrahim, wearing a light blue Islamic robe and headscarf. The lower court had sentenced her to 100 lashes and death by stoning after she confessed to having unlawful sex with a 35-year-old man, Dauda Sani. Sani was released for lack of evidence. The appeal judge annulled the conviction on the grounds it was incorrect to deliver the two sentences for the crime; the confession was void because it was not made four times; Ibrahim was not given the chance to defend herself; and the investigation was not properly carried out. "The court has therefore set Hajara free of all charges," Umar said. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |