Sudanese teen sentenced to death for killing husband after rape
By Arwa
Ibrahim, Al Jazeera, May 10, 2018
Noura
Hussein, 19, was forced by her parents to marry her cousin three years ago,
activists say.
Hussein, 19, was forced by her parents to marry her cousin three years ago,
activists say.
 |
| At 16, Hussein was forced by her parents to marry her cousin, forcing her to flee |
Noura
Hussein, a 19-year-old Sudanese woman, was sentenced to death by a court for
stabbing to death a man she was forced to marry after he raped her.
Hussein, a 19-year-old Sudanese woman, was sentenced to death by a court for
stabbing to death a man she was forced to marry after he raped her.
The death
penalty for Hussein was confirmed by a judge on Thursday after her husband’s
family rejected financial compensation and insisted on retribution.
penalty for Hussein was confirmed by a judge on Thursday after her husband’s
family rejected financial compensation and insisted on retribution.
“The
husband’s family received the verdict with claps of joy and cheering,”
said Amal Habani, a Sudanese journalist and women’s rights activist who
attended the hearing in Omdurman, Sudan’s second-largest city.
husband’s family received the verdict with claps of joy and cheering,”
said Amal Habani, a Sudanese journalist and women’s rights activist who
attended the hearing in Omdurman, Sudan’s second-largest city.
“But
for Hussein’s supporters at the courtroom, the news was very distressing,”
Habani told Al Jazeera.
for Hussein’s supporters at the courtroom, the news was very distressing,”
Habani told Al Jazeera.
Hussein’s
legal team has 15 days to appeal the death sentence.
legal team has 15 days to appeal the death sentence.
According
to another human rights activist who also attended the hearing, large crowds of
supporters for Hussein gathered outside the court to protest the verdict, but
police violently dispersed them.
to another human rights activist who also attended the hearing, large crowds of
supporters for Hussein gathered outside the court to protest the verdict, but
police violently dispersed them.
“People
protested carrying signs and posters to show their disapproval of the
verdict,” said Rasha Abualayla. “But the police snatched the posters
out of their hands and even started beating some of them.”
protested carrying signs and posters to show their disapproval of the
verdict,” said Rasha Abualayla. “But the police snatched the posters
out of their hands and even started beating some of them.”
Rights
activists have campaigned on behalf of Hussein on social media and a #JusticeForNoura hashtag
has trended on Twitter.
activists have campaigned on behalf of Hussein on social media and a #JusticeForNoura hashtag
has trended on Twitter.
Underage,
forced marriage
forced marriage
At 16,
Hussein was forced by her parents to marry her cousin, according to activists.
Hussein was forced by her parents to marry her cousin, according to activists.
According
to members of the #JusticeForNoura campaign, Hussein was forced to sign the
marriage contract in 2014. She then fled to a relative’s house in eastern Sudan
before the wedding ceremony was completed.
to members of the #JusticeForNoura campaign, Hussein was forced to sign the
marriage contract in 2014. She then fled to a relative’s house in eastern Sudan
before the wedding ceremony was completed.
Her
father allegedly tricked her into returning to her husband. After six days of
Hussein refusing his advances, he raped her with the help of family members who
held her down, supporters say.
father allegedly tricked her into returning to her husband. After six days of
Hussein refusing his advances, he raped her with the help of family members who
held her down, supporters say.
“She
would not have sex with the man,” Sarah ElHasan, a rights activist, told
Al Jazeera. “He recruited some of his cousins and brought them [to his]
home where they held her down while her husband raped her.”
would not have sex with the man,” Sarah ElHasan, a rights activist, told
Al Jazeera. “He recruited some of his cousins and brought them [to his]
home where they held her down while her husband raped her.”
When
Hussein’s husband attempted to rape her again, she stabbed him to death before
returning to her family, who then handed her over to police.
Hussein’s husband attempted to rape her again, she stabbed him to death before
returning to her family, who then handed her over to police.
“We
will try to appeal the decision in the next 15 days… We are hopeful that it
will be possible,” said a member of Hussein’s legal team, who asked not to
be named because of the case’s sensitivity.
will try to appeal the decision in the next 15 days… We are hopeful that it
will be possible,” said a member of Hussein’s legal team, who asked not to
be named because of the case’s sensitivity.
“Noura
had lots of problems in her life and marriage, which should be taken into
consideration… We are working on getting the judge to see those sides of the
case.”
had lots of problems in her life and marriage, which should be taken into
consideration… We are working on getting the judge to see those sides of the
case.”
According
to Habani, forced and child marriages in Sudan are an ongoing issue women’s
rights activists have been trying to address.
to Habani, forced and child marriages in Sudan are an ongoing issue women’s
rights activists have been trying to address.
“Like
Noura, who was only a child when she got married, there are many child
marriages and forced marriages in Sudan. The law doesn’t see that as illegal
and neither does it consider marital rape so,” explained Habani.
Noura, who was only a child when she got married, there are many child
marriages and forced marriages in Sudan. The law doesn’t see that as illegal
and neither does it consider marital rape so,” explained Habani.
“Noura
faced a lot of violence from her family to marry a man she rejected from the
start. Then she was beaten into submission by his family to consummate the
marriage. Noura was a victim before she became a criminal. She shouldn’t have
be handed down a death penalty.”
faced a lot of violence from her family to marry a man she rejected from the
start. Then she was beaten into submission by his family to consummate the
marriage. Noura was a victim before she became a criminal. She shouldn’t have
be handed down a death penalty.”
