Nigerian Woman Sentenced to Death for Adultery Under Moslem Law

Voice of America, October 20, 2001

A Nigerian woman has been sentenced to death by stoning for committing adultery.

The BBC reports the sentence - handed to Safiya Hussaini earlier this week - is the first death sentence passed since the northern Nigerian state of Sokoto adopted Islamic Sharia law around a year ago. A state-owned Nigerian newspaper reported the news on Friday.

The presiding judge acquitted Yahubu Abubakar, who was accused of impregnating her.

The 35-year-old nursing mother is to be stoned to death once her baby is weaned. She was not put into custody but was ordered to appear in court on the day of her execution.

Ms. Hussaini has 30 days to appeal the sentence. She has told the BBC she will fight the verdict.

The 1999 introduction of strict Sharia law into several majority-Muslim states in northern Nigeria has resulted in violent clashes between Christians and Muslims.

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