- Death by stoning hangs over two Sudanese women - Sadia Idriss Fadul and Amouna Abdallah Daldoum - who were found guilty for committing adultery in a trial in which they were not represented, Amnesty International alleged.
Amnesty also faulted the Sudanese court to try the women using Arabic, which is not their native language. The central Al Gezira state trial proceedings were not interpreted to the convicted women either.
Ms Fadul and Ms Daldoum were sentenced on 13 February and 6 March respectively. In a statement, Amnesty expressed worry over the execution, which was expected to be effected any moment.
"The women had no lawyer during their trial and were not able to defend themselves, as their first languages are those of their ethnic groups," Amnesty argued, adding that Sadia Idriss Fadul is with one her children in prison.
In such trials, medical tests are not done. And in the case of Ms Fadul's case, the man accused of impregnating her was acquitted because there was no sufficient evidence against him.
The Sudanese penal code, which is based on the Shari'a, outlaws sex outside wedlock, which is punishable by stoning to death. Lashing is a punishment for unmarried women proven guilty of committing adultery.
Amnesty representatives told afrol News that the two women most probably were Muslims, meaning the Shari'a law practice is applicable on them according to the Sudanese constitution. Shari'a laws on many occasions, however, also have been used to judge non-Muslims.
Concerned about the cases, human rights activists have written letters of appeals to the Sudanese government to spare the lives of Ms Fadul and Ms Daldoum as the sentences are not in line with international standards the government of Sudan has signed up to.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español