Strasbourg, 06/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution submitted by five political groups (EPP/DE, ELDR, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL) on the death sentence by stoning for Amina Lawal "for adultery". The Parliament is also worried about the application of Sharia law (including the death sentence) in several Nigerian states, whereas the country has signed international agreements against the death penalty. It attacked the death sentence imposed on Ms Lawal, who is in fact "guilty of having had a child after her divorce", and reiterates its opposition to the death penalty. However, it encourages the efforts of the federal government to try and improve human rights in Nigeria particularly via the creation of a national committee for human rights that would be responsible for investigating human rights violations and guarantee legal aid to those who appeal against sentences based on Sharia law to which they have been subject. The Parliament "calls on the EU and international organisations to provide legal and technical aid to Ms Lawal and all victims of fundamentalist persecution". Marie Anne Iler Béguin (Greens/EFA, France), considers that, "to be satisfied each time there is a simple declaration is unacceptable. We have to act and I propose setting up a group on Sharia Law and human and women's rights within the framework of the Cotonou agreement". Anna Karamanou (PES, Greece), "the Nigerian government is not capable of respecting international commitments on its territory with regard to human rights, to which, nonetheless, it is a signatory ". Bob van den Bos (ELDR, Netherlands) considered that, "if the Nigerian government is not capable of respecting its commitments, development aid should be re-examined". Commissioner Chris Patten concluded the debate declaring, "The Commission is very worried about the application of these sentences in all countries. It is brutality sanctioned and approved by the state. We are going to continue our efforts to help Ms Lawal via the partnership agreement and in this context, I find the idea of setting up a group on Sharia and human rights within the framework of the partnership agreements very interesting".