Please help these women?

Question

Sudan: Two Darfuri women at risk of being stoned to death
16 March 2007
Who is at risk?
Sadia Idriss Fadul (female, aged 22)
Amouna Abdallah Daldoum (female, aged 23)
Sadia Idriss Fadul and Amouna Abdallah Daldoum, both from the Darfur region in western Sudan, are at risk of being stoned to death after being convicted of adultery. Their sentence could be carried out at any time.

Sadia Idriss Fadul, from the Fur ethnic group, was sentenced to death by stoning on 13 February. Amouna Abdallah Daldoum, a member of the Tama ethnic group, was sentenced on 6 March.

Both women were convicted of adultery by a criminal court in Managil province, in Gazira state, central Sudan. According to reports, 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 in Darfur.

The court proceedings were conducted in Arabic and the women were reportedly not provided with a translator. They have yet to lodge an appeal against their sentence.

Both women are married with children. They are currently in detention in Wad Madani women’s prison in Wad Madani, Gazira State. One of the women, Sadia Idriss Fadul, has one of her children with her in prison.

Take action
Please send letters of appeal to arrive as quickly as possible, in Arabic, English or your own language:

expressing deep concern that Sadia Idriss Fadul and Amouna Abdallah Daldoum are at risk of being stoned to death;
expressing concern at reports that this sentence was imposed after a trial at which the women had no legal representation and no translation of the legal proceedings into their languages;
expressing concern that one of Sadia Idriss Fadul has one of her children with her in prison;
noting that Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally in any circumstances;
calling on the authorities not to carry out the death sentence imposed on Sadia Idriss Fadul and Amouna Abdallah Daldoum.
Send your letters to:
Mr Ali Mohammed Ali al-Mardi
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
PO Box 302
Khartoum
Fax: [phone]
Salutation: Dear Minister
Staff Lieutenant General Abdel Rahman Sir Al Khatum
Governor of Gezira State
Sudan
Fax: + 2491 8377 0143
Salutation: Dear Governor
Send copies of your letters to:
Dr Abdel Moneim Osman Taha
Rapporteur, Advisory Council for Human Rights, Khartoum, Sudan
Email: [e-mail]
Salutation: Your Excellency
If you receive a reply please let us know.

Background information
The Sudanese Penal Code, which is partly based on interpretation of Islamic Law, allows for penalties such as flogging, amputations and deaths by hanging or stoning.

While Amnesty International does not take a position on Islamic or any other religious law, it considers such penalties to be cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments which are inconsistent with Sudan's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Amnesty International opposes the death penalty unconditionally and under any circumstances.

The two women were charged under Article 146 (a) of Sudan's 1991 Penal Code. Article 146 states that anyone having sex outside marriage shall be punished with execution by stoning when the offender is married (Muhsan); or one hundred lashes when the offender is not married (non-muhsan).

Answer 1

Contact Amnesty.
They would be able to verify if this is a genuine case.
A lot of things are out of our hands and there are more women who need our help in America.

Answer 2

Amnesty International doesn't take a position on religious laws, eh.

They're going to be a big help in the coming years, aren't they.

Answer 3

What kind of bs is this?
That is their law. Why should you Americans always get into other countries. That is why almost the whole world hates you. Let them be stoned. I'm sure they're not the first or the last to be stoned. I think some of our laws aren't strong enough anyway.

Answer 4

Did they not know the law and the penalty?

Answer 5

No