Associated Press
Aug. 20, 2002
FUNTUA, Nigeria - An Islamic high court in northern Nigeria rejected an appeal
Monday by a single mother sentenced to be stoned to death for having sex out
of wedlock.
Her lawyers said they planned to file an appeal to a higher Islamic court. If
that fails, they can appeal to the Supreme Court, where the case would force
a showdown between Nigeria's constitutional and religious authorities.
The introduction of Islamic law, or Shariah, in a dozen northern states has sparked clashes between the country's Christians and Muslims.
President Olusegun Obasanjo's government has declared Shariah punishments such as beheadings, stonings and amputations unconstitutional. Some predominantly Muslim northern states, which began instituting Shariah shortly after civilian rule replaced military dictatorship in 1999, have accused him of meddling.
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