The Urgent Death Penalty Case of Noura Hussein Hammad
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2018/05/11
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 the petition, please provide first and last name and country to the following contact: daajisodfa.pr@gmail.com.
As I asked her about gender-based violence, as well as masculinity and gender roles as aspects in this, she talked about the multiple forms of violence faced by Noura.
Daaji stated, “Noura has faced multiple forms of violence, but she is still treated as the perpetrator, and not as a victim and survivor.” She explained Sharia Law does not permit the detailing her case in full to the judges.
However, marital rape is recognized in Sudanese law, but this aspect of the law was ignored in the case of Noura. It was ignored and not applied in short. The father treated Noura as if this was a woman whose fate was written through being married to a man chosen by the father.
Daaji described how Noura had zero chance to state no and be able to decide for herself, for her body, for her future.
When I asked about the ways in which the general public, the ordinary people, can help, Daaji stated, “Now, we need to be heard. We have 15 days and we are literally fighting against a system and against the time. We are not willing to be polite anymore, and we just need to be heard. Sharing the official hashtag #JusticeForNoura and her story will help us to fight for Noura’s justice.”
The prevalence of the cases such as Hammad’s seems common, according to Daaji. She wonders, along with other concerned people, if others are facing similar death penalties on similar grounds in Sudan.
“Women around the world are often the victim of injustice, and in some countries, laws are not equal. We are trying to mobilize to urge the Sudanese authorities to change as well the law,” Daaji explained, “and to start to take in consideration the details of each story, case by case. And of course, it is our duty to advocate for the abolishment of death penalty.”
Daaji cares passionately about the Sustainable Development Goals. She believes we cannot speak of leaving anyone behind in the developed world if we do not take other less well-off countries where the death penalty is part of the judicial system.
Hammad has less than 15 days to appeal the decision of the death sentence for her.
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