[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1913-H1915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING THE PUNISHMENT OF EXECUTION BY STONING AS A GROSS VIOLATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 26) condemning the punishment of
execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights, and for
other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 26
Whereas death by stoning continues to be imposed as a form
of punishment in several countries, as documented by the
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices of the United
States Department of State;
Whereas the brutal sentence of death by stoning is applied
to women who have been accused of adultery, some of whom are
coerced into prostitution, or even raped;
Whereas execution by stoning is an exceptionally cruel form
of punishment that violates internationally accepted
standards of human rights, including those set forth in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United
Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
Whereas women around the world continue to be
disproportionately targeted for discriminatory, inhuman, and
cruel punishments by governments who refuse to protect the
rights of all their citizens equally;
Whereas in some places stoning has also been invoked as
punishment for ``blasphemy'', thereby suppressing religious
freedom and diversity and stifling political dissent;
Whereas, in July 2002, Amnesty International referred to
execution by stoning as ``a method specifically designed to
increase the victim's suffering'';
Whereas, in 2002, the European Union, the Secretary General
of the Council of Europe, the Australian Government, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, the
President of Mexico, the Congress of the Deputies of Spain,
and other world leaders each condemned stoning and called for
clemency for individuals sentenced to stoning; and
Whereas, in 2002 there were acquittals or dismissals of
sentences to death by stoning: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) condemns the practice of execution by stoning, and
calls upon the international community to recognize this
practice as a gross violation of human rights;
(2) requests that the President formally communicate this
resolution to governments imposing this cruel punishment and
urge the suspension of sentences of death by stoning; and
(3) requests that the President direct the Secretary of
State to work with the international community toward the
repeal of stoning laws and adherence to international
standards of human rights.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).
{time} 1415
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 26.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution condemning the
punishment of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human
rights. I am a proud cosponsor of this resolution, and I commend the
gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) for her work on this issue.
As chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, I am pleased that the House
is taking this action.
Mr. Speaker, there can be no doubt that stoning is a gross violation
of human rights. When someone is put to death by stoning, they are
guaranteed a slow, painful, cruel death. Stones are carefully chosen so
they are large enough to cause maximum pain, but not so large as to
kill the condemned immediately.
Stoning brings out the worst in human nature. It may surprise many
that this barbaric practice has entered the 21st century, but it has.
Sharia law governs family law in a wide range of countries. It is only
applied to criminal offenses in a handful of states.
In Nigeria, 12 of the country's 36 states put Sharia criminal law
into effect in recent years, displacing Nigeria's secular laws.
The case of Amina Lawal, a young woman sentenced to death by stoning
for adultery, has brought international attention to Sharia-mandated
stoning. Her case is pending. We all hope she is spared this brutal
treatment.
This resolution rightfully condemns the practice of stoning and calls
upon the President and Secretary of State to work with their
counterparts toward the repeal of stoning laws and adherence to
international standards of human rights.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
First I would like to congratulate my good friend and colleague, the
gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the principal author of this
important resolution, for bringing it to our attention. She is a valued
member of our committee, and I want to thank her personally for this
important initiative.
Mr. Speaker, it is a sad commentary on the 21st century that we have
seen the resurgence under Islamic Sharia religious law of the practice
of execution by stoning, where an individual is buried up to his or her
neck in sand, and witnesses are invited to throw stones until that
person is dead, while shouting, ``God is great.'' It is the ultimate
oxymoron on the face of this planet that as a human being is buried up
to her neck in sand and is pelted with stones, the phrase can be heard
``God is great.''
The stones in this vile practice are carefully chosen so that they
are large enough to cause horrendous pain, but not so large as to kill
the condemned individual immediately. Victims of stoning are guaranteed
a slow, torture-filled death. Sometimes, Mr. Speaker, their children
are forced to watch.
This past year, the world was horrified as mothers were tried,
convicted and subjected to this horrible death sentence. The fact that
these women have been given the recourse to court appeals does not make
the punishment any more acceptable. Execution by stoning violates all
international standards of human rights and decency.
We must let the world know, Mr. Speaker, that civilized nations and
the United States in particular reject with disgust and horror this
form of punishment. I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res.
26.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H1914]]
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for
yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, as the condemned, as I think the gentleman from
California (Mr. Lantos) pointed out so well and it bears repeating,
prepare for their execution by stoning, they begin to pray, asking for
the inner strength to endure with faith and fortitude what awaits them.
They are wrapped head to foot in white shrouds and buried up to their
waist, and then the stoning begins. The victims are guaranteed a very
difficult and horrific death. In many cases kids have to watch this
agonizing death.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this heinous practice is not limited to
Iran, but is employed in so many other countries as well. Under the
extremist interpretation of Sharia law, pregnancy alone is considered
sufficient evidence to condemn a woman for adultery. Women in these
countries who have been raped and want the state to prosecute their
case must have no less than four Muslim men testify that they witnessed
the assault. Absent these witnesses, these male witnesses, the rape
victim has no case. If she cannot prove the rape allegation, she runs
the high risk of being charged with adultery, as we all know an offense
that is punishable by stoning.
Although this heinous practice is disproportionately used against the
female population of these countries, it is also used against men and
also used to suppress political dissent and the activities of religious
minorities.
H. Con. Res. 26 is a resolution which reflects the full extent of the
problem. As such, it calls on the United States and the international
community to condemn the practice of execution by stoning as a gross
violation of human rights and urges U.S. officials to work with their
global counterparts toward the repeal of all stoning laws.
Mr. Speaker, stoning sentences have been commuted in the last year
due to the United States' and international pressure. Lives have been
saved because we spoke out against this abhorrent practice, a method
which, according to Amnesty International, is specifically designed to
increase the victim's suffering.
Today we have the ability, I would respectfully submit, to save more
lives by rendering our strong support for this resolution. This measure
can help deter the application of extreme Sharia law and execution by
stoning in emerging nations, such as Afghanistan.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for H. Con. Res. 26.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the author of
this resolution.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support House Concurrent
Resolution 26, a resolution that I introduced to condemn the punishment
of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Committee on
International Relations for their support and thank my colleagues who
have cosponsored this measure.
This issue was first brought to my attention over 1 year ago when I
learned of a woman named Safiya Hussaini, who had been sense sentenced
to death by stoning in Nigeria solely based on the evidence she was
divorced and pregnant. Safiya was convicted of adultery, sentenced to
be buried in a pit and pelted with stones until dead.
The authorities ignored her claims that she had been raped. The
father of the baby was acquitted of all charges, as the law requires
the testimony from four male witnesses to prove him guilty of the same
crime, a virtually impossible task.
The international outcry helped save Safiya's life. Her sentence was
overturned on a technicality. However, on the day that Safiya was set
free, it emerged that another young Nigerian mother had been sentenced
to death by stoning, Amina Lawal. She has also been convicted of
adultery; her crime, giving birth to a child more than 9 months after
divorcing her former husband. Unless Amina's sentence is overturned,
she will be stoned to death in a public square as soon as her baby is
weaned, about this time next year.
At her trial, Amina had no legal representation. She did not receive
an adequate explanation of the charges against her. Frightened and
unaware of the consequences of her response, Amina confessed. However,
not much of a confession was needed, as her newborn daughter was proof
enough to find her guilty of adultery. The man Amina identified as the
father of her child denied the charges, and he was set free.
On the day that Amina's case was last heard on appeal, dozens of
people crammed into the small village courtroom to observe the
proceedings. Amina sat alone on a bench as her daughter slumbered
against her back. When the judge announced that Amina would be stoned
to death, observers shouted their approval, while Amina clutched her
baby and wept.
A court will hear Amina's next appeal on March 25, but it may be a
matter of hours or months until they issue a decision. Until then Amina
must wait. She is hopeful that her life will be spared, but worries
about what might happen to her daughter. If the court determines
stoning her to death is justified, it will happen.
Tragically, Amina is only one of a number of individuals who are at
risk of being executed by stoning. Laws authorizing this punishment
remain on the books in a number of other countries. Until these laws
are repealed, many more people could face this inhumane punishment.
Women remain particularly at risk for receiving this sentence due to
double standards that exist in these laws.
This resolution is important because it will send a message to the
most remote corners of the globe that the sentence of stoning,
particularly when used as a tool of gender persecution to control women
and girls, is far beneath any minimum standard of human rights
recognized by this House, by the people of the United States and by the
world community.
At the same time this resolution is not intended to be disrespectful
to any nation, religion or culture. But I do believe so strongly that
the most basic rights of every woman, man and child on this planet must
be respected, protected and defended. It is this belief of fundamental
human rights that compels me to speak out and encourage my colleagues
to join me in the effort to extinguish this brutal punishment from the
face of the Earth.
I do not know the women who have been sentenced to death by stoning.
I will likely never visit their villages in Africa or the Middle East,
but I will stand with them as my sisters, as my fellow citizens of the
world. I will work to defend their rights, the most basic human rights
we all deserve to enjoy.
Safiya and Amina are just two women in a distant land, far away from
us here and far away from my constituents in Minnesota. Nevertheless,
these women are targets for abuse and violence, and wherever women are
targets for abuse and violence or death simply because they are women,
I have an obligation to speak up, speak out and to fight for their
rights, because they are my rights and your rights, too.
My home in the State of Minnesota has a strong tradition of defending
basic human rights, from former Congressman Don Fraser to the late
Senator Paul Wellstone and his wife Sheila. Minnesota also is proud to
be the home for the Center for the Victims of Torture, the American
Refugee Committee and the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights. I am
proud to stand here today to continue this tradition.
It is high time that the United States join the many nations who have
condemned the inhumane punishment of stoning. I am pleased that House
leadership has brought this resolution to the floor for its
consideration, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure,
to send a clear and a powerful message to every nation that stoning is
an extraordinarily cruel form of punishment, and it must end today.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, but before
yielding back my time, I want to join my colleague from Minnesota in
paying tribute to the people of Minnesota for their extraordinary
commitment to human rights and to their commitment to protecting
victims of torture.
I also want to make an observation concerning the absurdity of the
current composition of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights,
where
[[Page H1915]]
countries serve where the practice of stoning women to death is legal
and practiced. This is just one more example of the absurdity of many
of these international organizations, pretending to be something
totally different from what they are.
{time} 1430
Stoning women to death and serving on the International Commission
for Human Rights are incompatible activities, and it is high time we
focus on bringing some reality to international organizations.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Let me just echo the words of the distinguished gentleman from
California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of the Committee on
International Relations. It is indeed ironic that Sudan, a country that
uses stoning, should serve on the Human Rights Committee of the United
Nations. It is even more ironic that Libya should be the current
chairman of that committee.
Mr. Speaker, in 1999, along with Colin Powell, I had the opportunity
and the privilege of coleading an election-monitoring team to Nigeria
for its first democratic elections there in over a decade. After years
of military rule, we observed a fair and free election; to wit,
firsthand those exercising the simple virtues of democracy was truly
inspiring. Along with other election monitors, I came away with great
hope for Nigeria's future.
Unfortunately, in the last 3 years, Sharia criminal law has swept
through the northern half of Nigeria. The chief prosecutor of a Katsina
state in northern Nigeria has even called Sharia law a ``dividend of
democracy.''
Mr. Speaker, since that election, 10,000 Nigerians have died in
religiously inspired rioting across that country. Nigeria seems to be
on the verge of being torn apart along Muslim-Christian lines. Besides
being barbaric and being a gross abuse of human rights, stoning is
fueling this religious divide, undermining Nigeria's democratic
prospects. Stoning is not a ``dividend'' of any type of democracy that
I know many Nigerians are struggling to establish.
Nigeria is but one country of concern for us. It was only after
September 11 that the American public began to learn about the brutal
living conditions for women under the Taliban, including being subject
to public stonings. Afghanistan remains a fragile state. Many parts of
Afghanistan are struggling with the questions of how to govern. This
resolution is our message that stoning should have no role in today's
Afghanistan, or anywhere else in today's age.
It is important for this body to bring attention to this abysmal
practice. This resolution deserves strong support of all Members here.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res.
26 to condemn execution by stoning as a gross violation of human
rights. I want to commend my colleague, Congresswoman Betty McCollum
for raising awareness of this issue by introducing this resolution. I
oppose the death penalty in any instance, and I certainly oppose the
cruelty of death by stoning.
Execution by stoning is particularly cruel and discriminatory in that
it is often used to punish women for adultery, even in cases where
women are victims of coerced prostitution or rape. Women around the
world, as well as in the United States, continue to experience
horrendous acts of physical and sexual violence against them. It is
absolutely unacceptable that some governments would then sanction death
as a punishment for being a victim of such violence. Unfortunately,
this continues to be the case in some countries.
The United States has a moral obligation to speak out against
violence, intolerance, hate, and discrimination throughout the world.
Without clear, strong condemnation and action from the United States
and all people of conscience, these violations of fundamental human
rights will continue to occur.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to take a stand
against all human rights abuses.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
26.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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