Text: U.S. Lawmaker Continues Fight Against Practice of Stoning

(Rep. McCollum notes lifting of stoning sentence in Nigeria) (550)

Representative Betty McCollum (Democrat of Minnesota) says she will
continue her effort to end the practice of stoning, while expressing
her approval of a Nigerian court's ruling to overturn the death by
stoning sentence of Sufiya Hussaini.

In a March 25 news release, the onetime high school teacher said
stoning remains a legal punishment in Nigeria, Iran, and other
countries that impose Sharia law. McCollum, who as a legislator has
been an advocate on women's health issues, introduced a resolution in
the House of Representatives condemning the practice.

The news release from her office pointed out that in Nigeria a second
woman is now under threat of being stoned to death. A Sharia court in
Nigeria's Katsina State sentenced Amina Lawal to die after she
confessed to having had a child while divorced.

The Minnesota Democrat said the global community must take action to
ensure that stoning is no longer a permissible form of punishment
anywhere.

"Stoning is a brutal and inhumane punishment that is being inflicted
on women in various countries," McCollum said. "It is important that
every nation send a message that practices such as stoning are
unacceptable," she added.

"We must do everything in our power to ensure that people around the
world are treated with respect and not subjected to such cruel and
unusual punishment," she said.

Following is the text of McCollum's March 25 news release:

(begin text)

03/25/02

Congresswoman Applauds Nigerian Court's Ruling
Mother's Death by Stoning Sentence is Repealed,
McCollum Continues to Push for Condemnation of Stoning

Washington, D.C. -- Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) is voicing
her approval of a Nigerian Court's overturning of a ruling to put to
death by stoning Sufiya Hussaini. Hussaini had been convicted of
adultery and faced the barbaric sentence, a practice that was set to
be imposed by Nigeria's Sharia Law. McCollum is the author of H. Con.
Res. 351, a Congressional resolution condemning the brutal practice of
stoning.

"I am very pleased to learn that the Nigerian court has overturned
Sufiya's sentence of death by stoning," said McCollum. "Nonetheless,
stoning remains a legal punishment in Nigeria, Iran and other
nations."

As Hussaini's verdict was announced, it emerged that a second woman
has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. A Sharia court in
Nigeria's Katsina State sentenced Amina Lawal to die after she
confessed to having had a child while divorced. McCollum says the
global community must take action to ensure that stoning is not a
permissible form of punishment in any country.

"Stoning is a brutal and inhumane punishment that is being inflicted
on women in various countries," McCollum said. "My fight against
stoning and other forms of gender persecution will continue until the
laws in all nations treat women with respect, dignity, and a sense of
humanity."

McCollum issued a letter to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo
asking that the brutal practice of stoning be stopped and applauds
President Obasanjo's intervention in the case.

"It is important that every nation send a message that practices such
as stoning are unacceptable," said McCollum. "We must do everything in
our power to ensure that people around the world are treated with
respect and not subjected to such cruel and unusual punishment."

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)