A 20-year-old Sudanese woman has been reportedly sentenced to death by stoning after being convicted of adultery. Police arrested Maryam Alsyed Tiyrab in Sudan’s White Nile state in June. She was found guilty of adultery by a court on June 26.
Human rights activists continue to fight against the penalty as it violates domestic and international law. “The application of the death penalty by stoning for the crime of adultery is a grave violation of international law, including the right to life and the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” said The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS), based in Uganda. They added how Tiyrab was not given a fair trial and was not informed that the details she gave during interrogation would be used against her. Additionally, she was denied access to a lawyer.
Many groups and activists in Africa fear that the sentence of stoning marks the government’s attempts to roll back women’s rights. “The death by stoning case is a reminder that the criminal law reforms during the transition [government] were not complete, and that such harsh, archaic punishments are still officially on the books,” human rights lawyer Jehanne Henry said. She also added that the sentence “shows that harsh Sharia laws [and] penalties are still being implemented in Sudan.” Human rights groups are protesting for Tiyrab’s immediate release.
