Amina lawal’s stoning sentence is overturned

The fight to abolish stoning law is continuing

Human rights and women rights defenders, freedom loving people

Our international campaign to save Amina Lawal has finally paid off and her stoning sentence was overturned. This was a tremendous victory for all those involved specially thousands of freedom loving people around the world whom lent their support to this worthy humanitarian cause. This campaign was an illustration of international solidarity in practice. We have declared to the world that we will not stand idle when women are subjected to stoning. We have sent a clear message to millions of women in the Islam-stricken communities that they are not alone in their fight. A strong message has been sent to millions of women threatened with the menace of anti-women laws, thoughts and practices that they can count on the conscious will and support of millions of free minded people across the globe. This was a warning to the governments and the Islamic groups in the Islam-stricken countries and communities that they will need to think twice before even contemplating handing down stoning sentences to a woman. The reactionaries have been taught a lesson that in issuing stoning sentences they are not dealing with a helpless woman but the might of a strong international outcry and rage. No laws, religion or government is allowed to legitimize violence against women. This is the 21^st century and women must live a life worthy of human being and we will make this happen.

Amina Lawal‘s sentence is overturned but the shadow of stoning is still hanging over the lives of millions of women living in the countries governed by Islamic laws. Women in these societies could face stoning any minute. We must keep putting pressure on the Islamic-stricken countries’ governments including Iran and Nigeria to annul stoning laws or any other sorts of punishment for extra-marital relationships in their constitution and penal codes.

As we have previously informed you, the execution sentence of Shahnaz, a 35 years Iranian woman, has been finalized. She is currently in prison in Iran and will soon be executed. Since February 2003, when Shahnaz’z death sentence was announced, the International Committee against Stoning has been campaigning to save her life. We have forced the Iranian regime to suspend stoning and now we must put pressure on them to annul any sort of punishment for sexual relationships out of wedlock and free Shahnaz immediately. Join our campaign to save Shahnaz.

Recommended actions:

· Write to the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami demanding:

- Immediate abolition of execution and all other forms of punishment for extra-marital relations;

- Immediate release of Shahnaz and all those imprisoned for extra-marital relations;

- Immediate release of Shahnaz, who has been sentenced to execution

Email: khatami@president.ir Fax: 0098 21 649 5880

International Committee against Stoning

October 11, 2003