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WOMEN'S UN REPORT NETWORK - WUNRN

STOP STONING GLOBALLY - UN PROCESSES – INTERNATIONAL LAW - PANEL

United Nations Human Rights Council

June 26, 2012Geneva, Switzerland

WOMEN’S UN REPORT NETWORKWUNRN®


AFGHANISTAN - YOUNG WOMAN STONED FOR RUNNING AWAY FROM ARRANGED MARRIAGE


VIDEO OF STONING IN AFGHANISTAN


A/HRC/16/75Human Rights CouncilSixteenth session

Interim Report of the Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran*

14 March 2011

D. Stoning as a method of execution

21. The application of stoning as a method of execution in Iran was again a focus of concern during this period. Under the existing Islamic Penal Code of Iran, adultery whilemarried is punishable by stoning. Despite a moratorium on stoning declared by the head of Judiciary in 2002, the Judiciary continues to sentence both men and women to execution by stoning. The instruction serves as guidance for individual judges but lacks binding legal effect.

22. The Human Rights Committee holds the view that stoning to death for adultery is a punishment that is grossly disproportionate to the nature of the crime.30 Likewise, the Special Rapportuer on Torture stressed that states cannot invoke provisions of domestic law to justify the violation of human rights obligations under international law, including the prohibition of corporal punishment.31 Iran however maintains that the punishment of stoning for married persons who commit adultery serves as deterrence in order to maintain the strength of family and society and that such charges are, by design, very difficult to prove. At a judicial colloquium held in December 2010 (detailed below), Dr Mohamad Javad Larijani argued that stoning should not be categorised as a ‘method of execution’, but rather a method of punishment which is actually more lenient because 50 per cent of persons survive. Nevertheless, the authorities have indicated that parliament is currently review


MAPPING STONING IN MUSLIM CONTEXTS


EXECUTION OF WOMEN BY STONING - PHOTO


IRAN STONING - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - VIDEO


22. A number of individuals have been sentenced to death in recent years by stoning, despite announcements of a moratorium on stoning as a form of capital punishment by the judiciary.14 In its report on the subject, Amnesty International stated that at least 15 men and women are currently facing death by stoning sentences for “adultery while married”.15 The Special Rapporteur joins the Human Rights Committee in expressing its concern about the use of stoning as a method of execution,16 maintains that adultery does not constitute a serious crime by international standards; and strongly urges the Government to enforce its moratorium on stoning. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the fact that stoning has now been omitted from the new Penal Code and hopes all existing cases will be reviewed to ensure that such penalties are not carried out.


Brussels - A protest shows the barbarity of death sentence by stoning, in which women are buried up to their necks and killed in a hail of rocks. Photograph: Thierry Roge/Reuters

BRUSSELS - PROTEST DEMONSTRATION AGAINST STONING


The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network) wishes to highlight the application of stoning and corporal punishment deployed in Sudan and denounces both its application and the legal provisions that sanction such acts. As a women’s human rights organization, we deplore the use of the death sentence in all circumstances and wish to reinforce this position in respect to the deployment of stoning as a particular form of punishment designed to cause significant physical pain and humiliation for the victim. There is no crime that warrants this punishment. On the 22nd April 2012 Ms. Intisar Sharif Abdulla, was sentenced by the Sudan Criminal Court to being stoned for the charge of adultery. The judgment has been made based upon a series of gross errors in due legal process. This ranges from the “admission of guilt” coming as the result of sustained beatings, through to a denial of legal representation and translation for Ms Sharif Abdulla such that she couldn’t even understand the court proceedings let alone represent herself appropriately. The sentence was passed after only one court session and her co-accused, who has denied the charge, has walked free. Ms. Sharif Abdulla is approximately 20 years old and a mother of three. Her youngest, her five month old baby, languishes in jail alongside her whilst Ms Sharif Abdulla remain shackled at the ankles inside Omdurman prison. She lacks formal education, is severely distressed and in need of psycho-social support. And though recognizes that her situation is bad, she doesn’t fully understand the full nature of the sentencing. In particular, she doesn’t fully appreciate that stoning means that she would be killed. An appeal process has been instigated and is currently under consideration, a process which could take up to 60 days. However there are no guarantees for the decision to be overturned and ostensibly, Ms Sharif…….

The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa Statement Against Stoning in Sudan


STONING OF WOMAN IN PAKISTAN - VIDEO SEGMENT


IRAQ - STONING TO DEATH OF AGE 17 GIRL FOR ROMANCE WITH BOY OF THE "WRONG RELIGION."

Ms. Aswad, a member of a minority Kurdish religious group called Yezidi, was condemned to death as an "honour killing" by other men in her family and hardline religious leaders because of her relationship with a Sunni Muslim boy.

The teenager was dragged outside by 8 or 9 men and stoned for half an hour until she died.


STONING OF SORAYA M - IRAN - FILM SEGMENT


UN SR Violence Against Women - Gender Related Killings of Women


Poem - The Stone & The Woman

How is a stoneDifferent from a woman?Just the right size,One makes death;Woman, Made to give life,Cruelly dies… Her age? No matter.Her crime? Look at her:Defence against a rapist?Peddler of her flesh?Just choose the crimeThat looks the bestAs index of social morality, And pile up the stonesOf brutality.

Not too big:She will die too soon.Not too small:She must bleed and swoonFrom the painAll gather to see. O, Defenders of Morality!Religion, Law, TraditionWith impunity,So eager to make your worldSafe from sin,By stoning of women, again and again. #### Dr. Carole R. Fontaine

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