NEWS RELEASES
CANADA WELCOMES NIGERIAN APPEAL COURT DECISION
September 25, 2003 (2:50 p.m. EDT) No. 142
CANADA WELCOMES NIGERIAN APPEAL COURT DECISION
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today welcomed the decision by the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal in Nigeria
to dismiss the death by stoning sentence of a Nigerian woman, Amina Lawal, for adultery. Amina Lawal had been
condemned to death by stoning by a Sharia Court in Bakori village, Katsina State, in March 2002.
"We welcome the court's decision to spare the life of Amina Lawal," said Minister Graham. "We hope the verdict in this
case will help ensure that Sharia penal codes are brought into line with Nigeria's obligations under international human
rights treaties to which it is party. Death by stoning punishments violate international human rights norms."
Canada has followed the Lawal case closely, and has repeatedly conveyed to Nigerian authorities at the highest levels our
profound concerns about the case, and about harsh sentences such as amputation, flogging and death by stoning being
handed out by Sharia courts in 12 states in northern Nigeria. Yesterday, Minister Graham told the Nigerian Foreign
Minister that Canadians were extremely anxious to see a positive outcome on this case.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Isabelle Savard
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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