(March 8, 2002) -- On December 8, 2001, the criminal court in Nyala, Southern Darfur, Sudan, summarily sentenced Abok Alfau Akok to death by stoning for committing adultery. Abok Alfau Akok, a married woman, is a Dinka of Christian beliefs who was pregnant at the time of the sentence.
On or about February 9, 2002, the court of appeals in Southern Darfur overturned this sentence, ruling that the woman should be "reprimanded" instead of stoned to death. On February 12, the criminal court in Nyala re-sentenced Abok Alfau Akok to seventy-five lashes. This sentence was carried out immediately without counsel or the right to appeal.
By the time of the lashing, Abok Alfau Akok had given birth. She was released from jail following the lashing and is living with her relatives and caring for her infant child.
Her lawyer lodged an appeal of the death sentence on December 11, 2001 that led to its overturning. The same lawyer has now initiated an appeal of the Nyala criminal court sentence, on the grounds that the immediate execution of the flogging sentence prevented Abok from seeking legal advice or exercising any right of appeal.
Flogging is a cruel and inhuman punishment that violates Sudan’s
international law obligations under the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Abok Alfau Akok’s rights
to a fair trial and to appeal the criminal court’s decision have been
violated by the Nyala criminal court’s sentence and flogging on February
12, 2002.
Appeals protesting the flogging sentence should be sent to the following:
APPEALS TO
His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 00 24911 771651/ 787676 / 783223
[Salutation: Your Excellency]
Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 0024911 788941 / 774842/ 774906
[Salutation: Dear Minister]
Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 00 24911 779383
[Salutation: Dear Minister]
Dr Ahmed al-Mufti
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 00 24911 779173
[Salutation: Dear Dr al-Mufti]
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
Khadir H. Ahmed
Ambassador/ Head of Mission
Embassy of the Republic of Sudan
2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel. (202) 338-8565, fax (202)667-2406, E-mail: Khadir3@hotmail.com
AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:
Mr Hafez al-Sheikh al-Zaki
Chief Justice, Supreme Court
Khartoum, Sudan
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after
3 April 2002.
