A Sudanese teenager has been freed from execution for killing her husband she accused of raping her.
The 19-year-old girl Noura Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging two months ago for her crime.
Her lawyer, Abdelaha Mohamad told the BBC that his client’s death sentence has been repealed.
Noura Hussein will face five years in jail.
Forced marriage
Noura was forced by her father at age 16 to marry the deceased who happens to be her cousin.
She had refused to accept the union and reportedly sought refuge with a relative for three years.
Upon her return to her family home on the outskirts of the capital Khartoum, preparations were still ongoing for her wedding ceremony.
Hussein had refused to have sex with her husband after the wedding ceremony, but was raped by her husband while three of his male relatives held her down.
When Hussein’s husband tried raping her the next day she stabbed him, killing him in the process.
Court ruling
A Sudanese Sharia court, using Islamic religious law convicted the teenager and found her guilty of premeditated murder.
She was to be hanged to death as a punishment.
Pardon appeal
The United Nations and other international rights groups called on Sudan’s president to revoke a death sentence.
In a joint statement the groups said “Reports indicate that she was forced against her will into marriage at the age of 16. She was raped by her husband while his three male relatives held her down”.
“Speaking as the voices of women and girls of the world, we plead with the government of Sudan to save the life of Hussein” the statement added.
Source: Africafeeds.com
