An Islamic court in northern Nigeria on Tuesday adjourned, for the second time, an appeal hearing against the sentence to death by stoning of mother of three, Amina Lawal, court officials said.
The Sharia Appeal Court in Katsina put off to August 27 the appeal by the 33-year-old mother against her conviction by a lower Sharia court in June 2001 for having sex outside marriage.
Appeal court registrar Dalhat Abubakar said the hearing could not go ahead because there was not a quorum of judges.
Lawal’s case has sparked local and international anger, especially by rights activists who have questioned the legality of the death sentence.
The Sharia legal system is in practice in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, despite opposition by the country’s central authorities and its Christian community.
Lawal’s appeal was to be heard in March, but the hearing was delayed until Tuesday. – Sapa-AFP