Brussels, 11/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - Greek Socialist, Anna Karamanou, and around sixty other MEPs have written to the Nigerian Ambassador to the EU, Mr Akunwafor, demanding that the execution of Safiya Husaini Tungar-Tudu by stoning, for having committed adultery, is not carried out. The execution is due to take place on 12 January. MEPs have condemned this "inhuman punishment" and point out that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Nigeria in July 1993, outlaws the death penalty for pregnant women. MEPs are also calling for the outright abolition of the death penalty.
The same day, Nicole Fontaine, sent a telegram to the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo asking for clemency for Ms Husaini. Ms Fontaine said that the woman had been condemned to death for adultery and now that she had given birth to the child, was going to be executed. Ms Fontaine also pointed out that as well as the case of this woman and her child having stirred "the conscience of all", Ms Husaini had also made an appeal, indicating that she had not committed adultery but had been raped.