2007年VOA标准英语-Rights Group Protests Stoning of Women in Sudan

By Noel King
Khartoum
22 March 2007

The human rights group Amnesty International says two women have been sentenced to death, by stoning, in Sudan for committing adultery. The sentence has raised questions about Sudan's penal¹ code, based on Islamic Shari'a law, which rights groups say has been used unfairly in the majority-Muslim nation.

Sudanese women prisoners wait in Rumbek's central prison after being sentenced to six months in prison for adultery  (File)

The two women, Sadia Idriss Fadul and Amouna Abdallah Daldoum, were sentenced to death in Gezira State, central Sudan, for committing adultery.

 

Fadul was sentenced in mid-February and Daldoum in early March.

 

Both women are from the war-torn Darfur region. Amnesty International charges one of Fadul's children has been imprisoned² along with her.

 

Sudan's legal system is based in part on an Islamic code of law, known as Shari'a.

 

Under Shari'a law, the death penalty can be applied³ in cases of murder, adultery or leaving Islam for another religion.

 

Rights groups charge that Shari'a law has been unfairly applied in Sudan.

 

Faisal El Bagir, a prominent human rights activist⁴ with the Khartoum Center for Human Rights and Environmental Development told VOA that he respects the tenets of Shari'a law.

 

But he stresses the laws must be applied correctly.

 

"I do respect Shari'a and Islam, as I respect all religions. But the application of Shari'a law, whether in Sudan or Afghanistan, is not the real Shari'a. This is not Islam. Islam is bigger than just punishing people. It's a way of life," he said. 

 

Amnesty International called the trial unfair, charging that it was conducted in Arabic, which is not the women's native language.

 

Both women speak tribal⁵ languages from the Darfur region.

 

Rights activist El Bagir tells VOA there was little chance the women understood the proceedings⁶.

 

"The women definitely are not understanding the language of the court and they did not understand the procedures," he said. "The Arabic language, which is the language of the court is not their mother tongue".

 

But Sudanese officials insist that rights groups have painted an unfair picture of Sudan's legal system.

 

The president of the Sudanese Bar Association, Fathi Khaleel, tells VOA it is highly unlikely the women will actually face death.

 

Khaleel said there are at four appeals processes that must be exhausted⁷ before a death sentence is carried out.

 

"The law is very clear. There is no punishment of stoning here. This is a politically motivated step from Amnesty International," he said. "There is no sentence of stoning here in Sudan, at all. They know that. This is politically motivated."

 

According to news reports the two women have not yet filed an appeal with Sudanese authorities.

 

Before a death sentence is carried out in Sudan, it must be approved by Sudanese President Omer Al Bashir.

1 penal   

adj.刑罚的；刑法上的

参考例句：

• I hope you're familiar with penal code.我希望你们熟悉本州法律规则。
• He underwent nineteen years of penal servitude for theft.他因犯了大窃案受过十九年的苦刑。

2 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

3 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

5 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

6 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

7 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。