URU, Alm.del - 2012-13 - Bilag 122: Henvendelse af 14. marts 2013 fra Amnesty International om 15-årig pige fra Maldiverne, der er idømt 100 stokkeslag og otte måneders husarrest for "utugt"

12 March 2013Dear President Dr Mohamed WaheedWith this letter Amnesty International Denmark wishes to urge you to ensure the release of a15-year-old victim of rape and ensure that she is not flogged or otherwise punished. 22.101Danish human rights activists for her freedom (A list of the signatories is included).The 15-year-old girl has been found guilty of “fornication” or sex outside marriage by a juvenilecourt in the Maldives on 25 February 2013. She has been sentenced to eight months’ housearrest and 100 lashes. The girl has been raped by her stepfather, who has been charged withseveral offences, including sexual abuse of a minor. The Prosecutor-General’s office thenpressed charges against her for “fornication”.“Fornication” is not an offence in accordance with international human rights law andstandards. Further, flogging is in violation of the absolute prohibition on torture and other cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The existence of the offence of “fornication”and the punishment of flogging in Maldivian law are inconsistent with Maldives’ obligationsunder international human rights law.Amnesty International and the signatories urge you to:Release the girl immediately and unconditionally, including ending the house arrest,and ensure that she is not flogged or otherwise punished;Ensure that the judicial process is initiated in order to overturn the conviction for“fornication”;Ensure that she has access to adequate and appropriate protective and supportservices;End the practice of flogging as a form of punishment and act to amend Maldivian lawto remove the provisions that allow flogging, as well as those that criminalize“fornication”.I thank you for your kind consideration of this serious matter.Kind regardsLars Normann JørgensenSecretary GeneralCopies of this letter are sent to Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdul Samad Abdullah andProsecutor General Ahmed Muizzu

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL