President Thabo Mbeki has been quietly appealing to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to intervene and save the life of Amina Lawal, the woman sentenced to die by stoning for having a child out of wedlock.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said on Wednesday that Mbeki had been talking to Obasanjo on the matter for some time.
”Of course the African National Congress Women’s League president, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has now requested that the president take the matter up and he will respond to her in due course.”
He said Mbeki felt it was wrong for anyone to die in that matter.
According to her sentence, Lawal will be buried up to her neck and then stoned until she died.
Lawal (31) has appealed her sentence. The Sharia Court of Appeal in Katsina, Nigeria, is expected to announce its verdict in Lawal’s case on September 25.
”The view of the president is that while Nigeria is a multicultural, multi-ethnic society it was wrong for anyone to die from being stoned to death.”
He said Mbeki would also answer questions on the matter in Parliament next week.
Khumalo said Mbeki would continue to pursue the matter with Obasanjo. — Sapa