22.03.02

Francesca Caferri

Safiya a un passo dalla salvezza: In Nigeria il governo dichiara incostituzionale la sharia

La donna era stata condannata alla lapidazione in base alla legge islamica in vigore negli stati musulmani del nord.

L�ordinamento era in vigore solo nel Nord Il ministro della Giustizia: �Un musulmano non pu� subire una pena pi� severa di altri cittadini per lo stesso reato�

Luned� la sentenza d�appello a Sokoto, ma la barbara condanna sembra scongiurata Dietro il cambio di rotta le forti pressioni della campagna umanitaria internazionale.

A POCHI giorni dal verdetto che dovr� decidere la sorte di Safiya Hussaini, la donna condannata a morte per aver concepito una figlia al di fuori dal matrimonio, il governo nigeriano ha dichiarato incostituzionale la Sharia, la legge islamica in vigore negli stati del nord del paese sulla base della quale la condanna era stata emessa. La presa di posizione � arrivata con una lettera del ministro della Giustizia Godwin Agabi pubblicata ieri dai quotidiani di Lagos. �Un musulmano non dovrebbe essere soggetto a una pena pi� severa di quella che sarebbe imposta ad altri nigeriani per la stessa violazione della legge�, si legge nella missiva. La lettera potrebbe rappresentare una svolta nella vicenda della donna, che in primo grado � stata condannata ad essere sepolta fino al collo in una fossa e poi uccisa a colpi di pietre. Luned� il tribunale di�appello dello stato di Sokoto, dove vive Safiya, dovr� decidere se confermare la sentenza, ma la presa di posizione del governo di Lagos potrebbe svuotare di valore la decisione.

Nei mesi passati, la vicenda di Safiya ha fatto il giro del mondo: questa contadina analfabeta di 35 anni, con tre ex mariti e cinque figli � diventata un simbolo. Proprio l�ultima dei suoi bambini,Adama, 12 mesi, � stata la �causa� della sua condanna: la piccola � nata quando  Safiya aveva gi� divorziato dall�ultimo dei suoi mariti. Per la legge islamica una donna non pu� avere rapporti sessuali al di fuori del matrimonio: cos� � stata denunciata. A nulla sono valse le giustificazioni, a nulla � servito a Safyia dire che Adama � il frutto di una violenza sessuale compiuta da uno degli uomini pi� influenti e ricchi del villaggio dove vive: per lei � arrivata la condanna a morte.

In appello la donna, su consiglio dei suoi legali, ha cambiato versione dichiarando che la bimba � figlia dell�ex marito, cosa che la salverebbe dalla lapidazione. Qualche giorno fa in aula, i difensori hanno ribadito questa versione. Lei, Safiya, con un velo bianco in testa e la piccola Adama in braccio, ha seguito il dibattimento in silenzio. Solo alla fine, di fronte a giudici e ai giornalisti dimezzo mondo, ha detto la sua: �Questa vicenda � toccata a me perch� sono povera: altri hanno commesso crimini ben peggiori di questo ma non sono stati puniti�, ha spiegato. Per Safiya si sono mossi governi e organizzazioni non governative: difficile pensare che la pressione internazionale non abbia influenzato il governo del presidente Olusegun Obasanjo, che con la lettera pubblicata ieri ha preso posIzione per la prima volta contro la sharia in vigore da due anni negli stati del nord della Nigeria. Gli osservatori fanno notare che dietro alla condanna della legge islamica ci sono anche motivazioni politiche: a meno di un anno dalle elezioni presidenziali, il cattolico Obasanjo, che proprio dagli stati islamici del nord nelle passate consultazioni ha ricevuto i voti decisivi per l�elezione, punta a conquistare i voti dell�elettorato moderato, deluso dalla Sharia. Ma di questo, a Safiya e ai suoi sostenitori importa poco.

Vanguard 

Sharia is Unconstitutional, Justice Minister

(Lagos)

February 21, 2002

Posted to the web March 21, 2002

THE Federal Ministry of Justice yesterday broke its silence on the introduction of the Sharia legal system in some states of the federation, declaring that punishment under the system was discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional.

 In a March 18, 2002 letter with reference No: HAGF/SHARIA/2002/Vol. 1 to governors of "all states that are practising Sharia legal system," Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN) said while he appreciated the governors motive in introducing Sharia, they should not allow their "zeal for justice and transparency to undermine the fundamental law of the nation which is the constitution."

 Following is the full text of the letter entitled, "Prohibition of discriminatory punishments."

 "It is my solemn duty to bring to your notice the hundreds of letters which I receive daily from all over the world protesting the discriminatory punishments now imposed by some Sharia courts for certain offences. As a respected member of the world community we cannot be indifferent to these protests. I crave your indulgence, therefore, to give thought to these protests and take measures to amend or modify the jurisdiction of the courts imposing these punishments so that we do not in the end isolate either the country as a whole or the affected states. We must be seen to comply with our constitution which in Section 42 (1) (a) provides as follows:

 "A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person -

 be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religious or political opinions are not made subject."

 "I appreciate that your motive in conferring criminal jurisdiction on the Sharia Courts is to ensure transparency and achieve a more orderly and disciplined society. I commend this lofty objective but in achieving it we must not violate the constitution. Unless we abide by the constitution we shall have on our hands an arbitrary society based on the discretion of our rulers. That is totally unacceptable.

 "The fact that Sharia law applies to only Moslems or to those who elect to be bound by it makes it imperative that the rights of such persons to equality with other citizens under the constitution be not infringed. A Moslem should not be subjected to a punishment more severe than would be imposed on other Nigerians for the same offence. Equality before the law means that Moslems should not be discriminated against. As an elected governor I am certain that you would not tolerate such disparity in the allocation of punishment. It is not only against the constitution but also against equity and good conscience.

 "Individuals and states must comply with the constitution. A court which imposes discriminatory punishments is deliberately flouting the constitution. The stability, unity and integrity of the nation is threatened by such action. In order to implement policies or programmes inconsistent with the constitution we must first secure its amendment.

 Until that is done we have to abide by it. To proceed on the basis either that the constitution does not exist or that it is irrelevant is to deny the existence of the nation itself. We cannot deny the rule of law and hope to have peace and stability.

 "I write to you in good faith and in the interest of our country and the law. While bearing witness to your devotion to our country and to the cause of fairness and justice, I urge that you do not allow your zeal for justice and transparency to undermine the fundamental law of the nation which is the constitution.

"I appeal to you, therefore, to take steps to secure modification of all criminal laws of your state so that the courts will not be obliged to impose punishments which derogate from the rights of Moslems under the constitution.

"May God guide you successfully through these difficult times."

Sharia States Should Modify Criminal Laws - Government

 This Day (Lagos)

March 21, 2002 

 Lillian Okenwa Abuja The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN, has told all governors operating the Sharia legal system to modify all criminal laws of their states to exclude imposition of punishments that may infringe on the rights of Moslems to equality with other citizens under section 42(1)(a) of the constitution.The minister in a release yesterday, further stated that equality before the law means that Moslems should not be discriminated against, and this implies that they must not be subjected to a punishment more severe than would be imposed on other Nigerians for the same offence.The statement by Agabi seems to be a departure from the posture of the Federal Government in the past which bordered on aloofness. In response to calls for a categorical response of the government to Sharia first proclaimed by Zamfara State in 1999, for instance, President Olusegun Obasanjo had repeatedly said in the past that "the issue will whittle away."Most of the states in the North have already adopted Sharia.The Justice Minister's note of caution is coming barely five days to the expected judgement of the Sokoto State Sharia Appeal Court on the appeal by Safiya Husseini- Tungar Tudu, against death sentence by stoning for adultery. The case has attracted global spotlight as well as international solidarity for Safiya.In the letter dated March 18 and addressed to the governors of the Sharia states, Agabi stressed that individuals and states must comply with the constitution, and that any court, which imposes discriminatory punishments, is deliberately flouting the constitution.Section 42 (1) states that; a citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person - (a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administration of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject.While acknowledging the objective of achieving a more orderly and disciplined society as the motive of states in conferring criminal jurisdiction on Sharia courts, Agabi warned that such imposition of discriminating punishments, if continued unchecked, may end up in isolating the country as a whole or the affected states as the entire world has risen to register their concern.He also brought to the notice of the governors that his office had been inundated with letters from all over the world protesting the discriminatory punishments now imposed by some Sharia courts for certain offences.Furthermore, he urged the chief executives of the states in question not to allow their zeal for justice and transparency to undermine the fundamental law of the nation, which is the constitution.It was only last Monday that the Sokoto State Sharia Appeal Court fixed next Monday (March 25) as judgement day for the Safiya case.Safiya was sentenced to death by stoning on October 19, 2001 by the upper sharia court, Gwadabawa. She later gave birth to a baby girl, Adama, in February 2001.Safiya filed an appeal against the sentence on January 14 in the Sokoto State Sharia Appeal Court.

Integrated Regional Information Networks 

Justice Minister Says Sharia Against Constitution UN 

 March 21, 2002 

Nigeria's federal government has declared the application of strict Islamic or Sharia law unconstitutional and has asked states using the legal system to modify it according to the provisions of the country's constitution.Justice Minister and Attorney-General Kanu Godwin Agabi, in a letter to state governors in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north, made available to the media on Thursday, said some judgments passed under Sharia were discriminatory against Muslims. He said this was contrary to the constitution.  "A Muslim should not be subjected to a punishment more severe than would be imposed on other Nigerians for the same offence," Agabi said. "Equality before the law means that Muslims should not be discriminated against."He warned: "To proceed on the basis either that the constitution does not exist or that it is irrelevant is to deny the existence of the nation itself. We cannot deny the rule of law and hope to have peace and stability."Agabi said his office was being inundated with hundreds of protest letters daily from around the world on the "discriminatory punishments" being handed down for a number of offences by Sharia courts. He said Nigeria could not afford to be indifferent to such protests.A total of 12 of 19 states in Nigeria's northern region have in the past two years extended the jurisdiction of Sharia law to criminal matters and moral offences. Punishments prescribed under the new code include stoning to death for adultery, amputation of limbs for stealing, and public flogging for drinking of alcohol and premarital sex.So far, the most controversial Sharia judgment in Nigeria has been a sentence of death by stoning passed on Safiya Husseini Tunga-Tudu, 35, for adultery in Sokoto State. A ruling on her appealed against the sentence is fixed for Monday. Sharia has also fuelled religious violence in Nigeria, split almost evenly between a largely Christian, non-Muslim south and a predominantly Muslim north. The new directive by President Olusegun Obasanjo's government is a significant departure from its previous refusal to interfere with states that had adopted the strict Sharia code. Obasanjo had characterised them as political manoeuvres whose significance would wane with time.But the latest position is likely to put the federal government on a collision course with pro-Sharia governors who had threatened to defy federal directives on the controversial issue.