Stoning is Not our Culture: A Comparative Analysis of Human Rights and Religious Discourses in Iran and Nigeria
Stoning is Not our Culture: A Comparative Analysis of Human Rights and Religious Discourses in Iran and Nigeria
Stoning is a cruel form of torture that is used to punish men and women for adultery and other 'improper' sexual relations. It is currently sanctioned by law and carried out by state actors in at least two countries, and at least seven individuals have been stoned to death in the last five years.
This briefing paper analyses the stoning punishment through several lenses. First, we explain how stoning violates basic human rights. Stoning is a form of torture that is often characterised by gender discrimination and unfair judicial processes. Second, although stoning is often justified in the name of Islam, the use of stoning today is wholly un-Islamic and religiously illegitimate.
Since stoning is implemented differently in different contexts, this paper presents two case studies - Iran and Nigeria - in order to examine the issue in a comparative perspective. These case studies detail the specific ways in which stoning arises, as well as how local activists work to eliminate stoning in their own countries. We conclude with specific recommendations to policy makers and civil society.
Author: Rochelle Terman and Mufuliat Fijabi
Editor: Rochelle Terman
The Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women, Women Living Under Muslim Laws
© 2010
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Stoning is not our culture - A Comparative Analysis of Human Rights and Religious Discourses in Nigeria and Iran.pdf | 885.98 KB |
Relevant Content
Relevant Resources
- No Justice in Justifications: Violence Against Women in the Name of Culture, Religion and Tradition
- Proceedings of the CSW panel discussion on violence against women and girls justified in the name of culture
- Stop Stoning Forever Campaign: An Unfinished Story
- Report of the secretary general on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- The Bloodied Stone