THE EDITOR, Sir:
A FEW months ago, a young woman in Nigeria was sentenced to death by stoning for having a child as a result of an adulterous relationship. Despite worldwide outcry at so brutal a sentence, the Nigerian court on Monday August 19, 2002 denied her appeal. Judge Aliyu Abdullahi made it clear the judgement will be carried out as soon as the baby is weaned. The young mother has 30 days in which to appeal the sentence.
I would appeal to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Anthony Hylton, that while basking in the afterglow of our newly signed "co-operation agreement" with Nigeria, we insert a little humanity and appeal to their government for the life of this young woman.
As a Jamaican woman, I encourage my government to look beyond the politics and what we stand to lose by alienating a new friend, and to appeal to Nigeria in the strongest terms possible that this cruel verdict be set aside. If not, then maybe we need to reassess our friends.
I am etc.,
PAULINE J. FORD-CAESAR
carib78@hotmail.com
Washington DC
Via Go-Jamaica
