Islamic Bigots: The case of Safiya Hussaini

Abstract

The case of Safiya Hussaini, the woman sentenced to death by stoning, by a Sharia court in the northwestern state of Sokoto in Nigeria, continues to drag on. She had been convicted of “adultery” earlier in the year but her sentence was deferred because she was pregnant. The trial judge had been “kind and considerate” enough to allow her to deliver the baby before having her killed. The kindness somehow could not be extended to the right of the innocent child to have his mother’s security and nurture. She has since delivered the baby but the sentence could not be carried out because of pending legal challenges.