Dear friends,
Layla’s life is still in danger. We need you to take action to save her.
Layla Ibrahim Issa is a 23-year old mother who was sentenced to death by stoning by the Mayo court in Khartoum, Sudan. We put out an action alert to support Layla earlier this month, and we extend our thanks to those of you who raised their voices; but Layla is still in prison with her 6-month old child.
The authorities have not yet responded to our demands to immediately repeal the verdict, and stop the planned execution.
We need to raise our voices even louder to have them both released!
Stoning is a horrendous form of torture, and Layla’s sentence is a clear violation of the rights guaranteed to all Sudanese citizens by Sudan’s constitution, as well as Sudan’s voluntary commitments to human rights treaties. Holding Layla’s child is a direct violation of Sudan’s responsibilities under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Sudan has signed and ratified.
Around the world, governments, religious leaders and civil society are converging to denounce stoning as unacceptable. Let’s add our voices to the global movement, so that stoning can never again be considered a legitimate form of punishment.
By signing this petition, you are directly supporting Sudanese women’s rights activists and civil society who are campaigning for Layla’s and her baby’s release; for their fair treatment; and for an overhaul of the Sudan Criminal Code (1991) to repeal the article proscribing stoning as a punishment for consensual sexual relations outside of marriage.
Take action! Join us to help save Layla’s life before it is too late!
Petition
[Petition created by Violence is Not our Culture!]
We the undersigned call for an immediate stop to the execution of Layla Ibrahim Issa, and ask for the release of her, and her 6-month old baby from prison.
We call on the Sudanese government to:
• Guarantee Layla her full rights to a fair trial, providing her the legal representation in court in accordance with the Sudan Constitution and Article 135(13) of the Sudan Criminal Code 1991;
• Ensure that her condition in prison does not cause physical or mental pain or suffering, or humiliate or degrade her or her child;
• Guarantee that the best interest of her detained child, by the Convention on the Rights of the Child which Sudan has signed and ratified, as well as with Article 32 of the Sudan Constitution on the rights of women and children; and
• Establish an official moratorium on executions by stoning in the country, with a view to abolish the death penalty, and to commute all existing death sentences in line with the growing global trend and UN General Assembly resolutions.
To sign:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_Stoning_Free_Layla_Ibrahim_Issa/