Outrage over Sudanese woman's stoning to death sentence for adultery

Khartoum, June 1 (ANI): A Sudanese woman has been sentenced to death by stoning on charges of adultery, which has prompted a protest by human rights campaigners.

According to Amnesty International, Intisar Sharif Abdallah was tried without access to a lawyer and is being detained with her four-month-old baby.

Jean-Baptiste Gallopin of Amnesty's Sudan team said: "The case is emblematic of the failure of the Sudanese judicial system. We call on the Sudanese authorities to stop the execution, overturn her stoning sentence and release her immediately and unconditionally".

"Stoning is a method of execution designed to increase the suffering of the victim, which means it is an extreme and cruel form of torture. International human rights law specifically prohibits death sentences resulting from unfair trial, as well as the execution of new mothers," The guardian quoted Gallopin as saying.

Amnesty has urged its supporters to write to the Sudanese Government and plead that Abdallah be set free.

Abdallah admitted to charges of adultery only after her brother beat her.

The conviction is solely based on Abdallah's testimony. The man held with her reportedly denied the charges and has been released.

The Sudanese Embassy in the UK has criticised Amnesty's attitude towards the country.

Embassy Spokesman Khalid al-Mubarak said: "It is not interested in the welfare of our women because it never mentions the positive side. Our women have achieved equal pay for equal work. They occupy top jobs as ministers and members of the high court." (ANI)