Beauty queens' boycott for Amina

Submitted by AWL on 1 October, 2002 - 9:07

You probably wouldn't expect Miss World contestants to be leading the way in fighting for women's rights. But already seven beauty queens have announced that they will boycott this year's Miss World contest, due to be held in Nigeria in November, in protest at the sentence of death by stoning handed down to single mother Amina Lawal ) under sharia law.

Amina was sentenced to death in March 2002 after admitting having had a child while divorced. A first appeal against her sentence was rejected on 19 August, and she is now appealing to a higher court.
Contestants from Belgium, France, Norway, Denmark, Kenya, Togo and Swaziland are refusing to participate in the Miss World contest in solidarity with Amina. Miss Swaziland said in an interview: "If I participate, it means that I am supporting stoning."

Send letters of protest to: Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria.
Fax: + 234 9 523 21 36.
Email: president.obasanjo@nigeriagov.org,
or to Kanu Godwin Agabi, Minister of Justice. Fax: + 234 9 523 52 08.

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.