Call to Action on Noura Hussein Hammad from Sodfa Daaji
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Medium (Personal)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2018/05/10
Sodfa Daaji is the Chairwoman of the Gender Equality Committee and the North Africa Coordinator for the Afrika Youth Movement. Here we talk about Noura Hussein Hammad’s urgent case. The hashtag: #JusticeForNoura. Daaji’s email if you would like to sign: daajisodfa.pr@gmail.com.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Noura Hussein Hammad is a Sudanese woman up for the death penalty at only 19-years-old. Why?
Sodfa Daaji: Ms. Noura on May 10th, 2018 has been condemned to death penalty, under the article 130, for intentional homicide. Of course, we are against the decision of the court, and against the application of Sharia Law. Noura has not committed a homicide but she has defended herself from a violent husband, who has raped her without any pity. How can we, on 2018, hear about a woman condemned to death for self defence?
We are urging the Sudanese authorities to take in consideration Noura’s story, who is now psychologically damaged. Noura has been forced to get married to a relative, then she has faced a rape, physical violence, and gender-based violence.
Jacobsen: What role do religion and some men’s belief of their ownership of women play into this?
Daaji: It is not up religion, but it is up the way religion is interpreted and used by men to justify their violence and domination on women. Religion have always discriminated women, as those who need men’s protection and education.
And with the years we are assisting on a deterioration of the interpretations when it comes to religion. On Sudan is applied Sharia Law, and the culture is confirming the way men perceive and treat women.
Of course, on Noura’s case religion and some men’s belief has played a key role: Some people have said that her husband had the right to rape her since she was her wife. This sentence resume perfectly the cultural conflict present in Sudan, between people who are aware about what is violence, and those who validate violence.
Jacobsen: What has been the outcry from the general public over this?
Daaji: Luckily Noura’s case spread around and we are assisting to actions and mobilisation in support. A note goes to Sudanese youth, who are fighting without any fear, and today went in front of the court to give support to Noura.
Their voice is putting in a corner those who are validating the violence that Noura has received, thinking that her husband and her family had all the rights to ruin her childhood and life.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Sodfa.
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