Darfuri women at risk of being stoned to death for adultery

SUDAN : Sadia Idriss Fadul (f), aged 22 ,
Amouna Abdallah Daldoum (f), 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. They were both 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.

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).

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals 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.

– APPEALS TO:
– Mr Ali Mohammed Ali al-Mardi
– Minister of Justice
– Ministry of Justice
– PO Box 302
– Khartoum
– Fax: +249 183 770883
– Salutation: Dear Minister

– Staff Lieutenant General Abdel Rahman Sir Al Khatum
– Governor of Gezira State
– Sudan
– Fax: + 249 183 770143
– Salutation: Dear Governor

– COPIES TO:
– Dr Abdel Moneim Osman Taha
– Rapporteur, Advisory Council for Human Rights, Khartoum, Sudan
– Email: [email protected]

– and to diplomatic representatives of Sudan accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 27 April 2007.