THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE CALLOUSNESS of present day Jamaica may be judged by our deafening silence on the matter of Nigeria's intention to stone a woman to death, because she bore a child out of wedlock.
The Government, the Opposition, the Church and most of Civil Society seem to be treating it with scant regard, even though persistent inaction contradicts our oft-repeated concern for decency in human values and attitudes.
One of Jamaica's first acts after gaining Independence was to send Mr. Hugh Shearer (in place of Prime Minister Sir Alexander Bustamante), to address the General Assembly of the United Nations and have that body declare 1968 as the International Year of Human Rights. This proposal was accepted; and subsequently Jamaica's Sir Edgerton Richardson presided over the conference that led to the Teheran Declaration on Human Rights.
How is it that we, who were once among the world leaders for international human rights, have now become so hard of hearing that we fail to notice the cry against the evils of the Amina Lawal case?
The Universal Declaration of the United Nations, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Convention against Torture, all speak against what the Nigerians have been doing; and all are signed and sworn to by Nigeria. Despite these solemn commitments they continue to perpetrate atrocities in the name of justice. Amina is only the latest case. Last year a 17-year-old woman was sentenced to 180 lashes for a similar offence. That was mercifully commuted to 100 lashes, after which she was obliged to walk home.
World governments are speaking out against this barbarism, but Jamaica's leadership remains mute, although I am aware that the Farquharson Institute long ago requested the Prime Minister to appeal to Nigerian President Obasanjo, his friend and our recent guest. Obasanjo says the stoning is unconstitutional, but he has not taken steps to stop it. Australia, New Zealand and Spain have taken a stand. The European Union leaders have spoken out. Rome has shown its opposition by awarding Honorary Citizenship to Safiya Husseini who was also convicted for adultery in Nigeria, but managed to win an appeal. Why is Jamaica still silent?
I am etc.,
KEN JONES
alllerdyce@hotmail.com
