CALL FOR AMINA LAWAL TO BE SPARED FROM STONING ON 3RD JUNE

Early day motion 1106, tabled 29 April 2003 by Ashok Kumar (Labour). Signed by 95 members.

That this House notes the decision of the Nigerian Supreme Court to uphold the death sentence for Amina Lawal, condemned for the crime of adultery by evidence of her conception of a child outside wedlock, on 19th August 2002; further notes that under Shari'ah law pregnancy outside marriage is an offence punishable by severe beatings or by death; is shocked at the lack of due process exhibited in many tribal courts in Nigeria's Northern provinces; is appalled at the barbaric method by which she is to be killed, by being buried up to her neck and hit with rocks until dead; recalls that her death was postponed so that she could continue to nurse her baby, and that her death will leave it parentless as the father has yet to make himself known as this would make him subject to similar punishment; welcomes the efforts of Amnesty International and other international women's and human rights organisations in trying to gain reprieve for Ms Lawal; and calls on all domestic and international bodies including, but not restricted to, the UK Government and the United Nations, to act now to prevent this despicable act.

Signatures by party: Labour 60, Liberal Democrat 13, Conservative 10, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 1.