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CNN Live At Daybreak

Woman Appeals Stoning Sentence

Aired June 03, 2003 - 05:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On to legal moves overseas. Right now an appeal hearing is under way in Nigeria for a woman sentenced to be stoned to death for having a baby out of wedlock. The case has the attention of several human rights groups that are outraged by the death sentence.
Jeff Koinange joins us from outside the court in Katsina, Nigeria with the latest -- good morning.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

You're right, it is D-Day from Amina Lawal. But the D right now stands for delay, as this court case was supposed to start an hour and a half ago. But the principals have yet to arrive. I'm talking about the judges. I'm talking about the prosecution and the defense. And Amina Lawal still hasn't arrived.

But as someone commented to me a couple of minutes ago, we've waited a couple of hours for this. Amina Lawal's life has been on hold for more than a year.

As you recall, Carol, she was convicted of having a child out of wedlock over a year ago, but because her child was too young, she was able to get time off to wean the child for about a year and a half and that conviction date was set for August 25, 2003, which means it's less than three months away. That's why these appeals are very, very important.

If the court does uphold the appealing today, she can, indeed, go one more step. But it will set a dangerous precedent because there are others behind her. There are other court cases behind her, people waiting to be convicted. And one of these days you know that Sharia courts will carry out one of their sentences in one way or another -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jeff, this case has gotten so much international attention. I think I've read about it in just about every American women's magazine. Is this going to help her case, this intense international attention?

KOINANGE: Carol, you won't believe the amount of publicity this case has generated. Who knew Amina Lawal about a year ago, let alone Nigeria? Not the whole world. Now it's on just about everyone's lips, just as you say. And that has helped a lot. People now, when they hear Amina Lawal, they say oh, the stoning case. How could such a thing happen in this day and age? It is so barbaric. So many comments we hear on a day to day basis because of the pressure from human rights groups, NGOs, you know, people in various positions of power. And that has certainly helped a lot. And today will determine whether this case will go on or whether she will win.

As you recall, about two years ago another woman was sentenced to death by stoning in the northern state of Sokuto. She was released because of international pressure. We're hoping the same will hold for Amina Lawal -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jeff Koinange reporting live from Nigeria for us this morning.

Many thanks.

You can read more about Amina Lawal's stoning death appeal on our Web site. It's easy. Go to cnn.com. for you AOL users, just type in the keyword CNN.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired June 3, 2003 - 05:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On to legal moves overseas. Right now an appeal hearing is under way in Nigeria for a woman sentenced to be stoned to death for having a baby out of wedlock. The case has the attention of several human rights groups that are outraged by the death sentence.
Jeff Koinange joins us from outside the court in Katsina, Nigeria with the latest -- good morning.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

You're right, it is D-Day from Amina Lawal. But the D right now stands for delay, as this court case was supposed to start an hour and a half ago. But the principals have yet to arrive. I'm talking about the judges. I'm talking about the prosecution and the defense. And Amina Lawal still hasn't arrived.

But as someone commented to me a couple of minutes ago, we've waited a couple of hours for this. Amina Lawal's life has been on hold for more than a year.

As you recall, Carol, she was convicted of having a child out of wedlock over a year ago, but because her child was too young, she was able to get time off to wean the child for about a year and a half and that conviction date was set for August 25, 2003, which means it's less than three months away. That's why these appeals are very, very important.

If the court does uphold the appealing today, she can, indeed, go one more step. But it will set a dangerous precedent because there are others behind her. There are other court cases behind her, people waiting to be convicted. And one of these days you know that Sharia courts will carry out one of their sentences in one way or another -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jeff, this case has gotten so much international attention. I think I've read about it in just about every American women's magazine. Is this going to help her case, this intense international attention?

KOINANGE: Carol, you won't believe the amount of publicity this case has generated. Who knew Amina Lawal about a year ago, let alone Nigeria? Not the whole world. Now it's on just about everyone's lips, just as you say. And that has helped a lot. People now, when they hear Amina Lawal, they say oh, the stoning case. How could such a thing happen in this day and age? It is so barbaric. So many comments we hear on a day to day basis because of the pressure from human rights groups, NGOs, you know, people in various positions of power. And that has certainly helped a lot. And today will determine whether this case will go on or whether she will win.

As you recall, about two years ago another woman was sentenced to death by stoning in the northern state of Sokuto. She was released because of international pressure. We're hoping the same will hold for Amina Lawal -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jeff Koinange reporting live from Nigeria for us this morning.

Many thanks.

You can read more about Amina Lawal's stoning death appeal on our Web site. It's easy. Go to cnn.com. for you AOL users, just type in the keyword CNN.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com