"Amina Lawal should be allowed to fully enjoy her rights of appeal to a higher, impartial, independent tribunal which follows the due process of law. This sentence must not be carried out." the organization said.
Background
The Nigerian constitution guarantees the right to life and to freedom from torture and cruel inhuman and degrading punishments and the right to fair trial. Nigeria is a state party to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The ICCPR protects the rights to life and in countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentences of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes. This has been interpreted by several United Nations bodies, including the United Nations commission on human rights to be limited and not go beyond "... intentional crimes with lethal or extremely grave consequences and ... not to be imposed for non-violent acts such as .. Sexual relations between consenting adults." (Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2002/77, para 4cc).
The case of Amina Lawal does not fit within the strict definition of "most serious crimes".
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW.
For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org
Please also see the BBC’s more extensive coverage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2202111.stm
Background
The Nigerian constitution guarantees the right to life and to freedom from torture and cruel inhuman and degrading punishments and the right to fair trial. Nigeria is a state party to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The ICCPR protects the rights to life and in countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentences of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes. This has been interpreted by several United Nations bodies, including the United Nations commission on human rights to be limited and not go beyond "... intentional crimes with lethal or extremely grave consequences and ... not to be imposed for non-violent acts such as .. Sexual relations between consenting adults." (Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2002/77, para 4cc).
The case of Amina Lawal does not fit within the strict definition of "most serious crimes".
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW.
For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org
Please also see the BBC’s more extensive coverage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2202111.stm