Violence against women

In July 2012, Najiba, 21 was stoned and shot dead in Ghorband Valley of Parwan Province in front of a hundred and fifteen men in the community, cheering the stoning. This horrific incident was filmed by a community member who was present. Najiba had been accused of moral crimes by the local warlords and commanders, while the government blamed the Taleban insurgency.

In 2012, two women in Sudan were sentenced to death by stoning. Layla Ibrahim Issa, who had a six-month old infant, was sentenced to stoning under Article 146 of the Sudanese Criminal Code.  Our legal centre worked on Layla’s case. Layla’s husband placed a complaint against her, saying that she bore a child from another man in his absence. Initially she had no lawyer, and was not assigned one by the judge. Luckily, lawyers from the centre met with Layla, represented her, and drafted an appeal which was accepted and resulted in her release.

A 15-year-old rape victim has been sentenced to 100 lashes for engaging in premarital sex, court officials said. The charges against the girl were brought against her last year after police investigated accusations that her stepfather had raped her and killed their baby. He is still to face trial.

Women Living Under Muslim Laws is partnering with the Stop Stoning Forever Campaign (Iran), the Research Institute for Women Peace & Security (Afghanistan), the Women's Intercultural Network, and the Women's UN Report Network to host a panel on stoning as an act of violence against women at the 57th Commission at the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York.This not-to-be-missed event will be held on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 2:30pm at the Church Center for the UN - 10th Floor, 777 United Nations Plaza and is open to the public.