Death by stoning:

Women's group call for clemency

The Task Force on Violence against Women has expressed shock and dismay over a Sri Lankan migrant worker being reportedly sentenced to death by stoning in Saudi Arabia for adultery. In a statement, the Chairperson and members of the Task Force on Violence against Women said that adultery is not a crime in Sri Lanka and besides, the Sri Lankan justice system does not recognize stoning as a form of punishment.

"Such punishment is a violation of the right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment guaranteed by our Constitution," it said.

The statement added, "We appeal to the Saudi Arabian Government to ensure that this punishment is not carried out. We ask that in an act of clemency, the woman migrant worker be permitted to return to her home country.

"We call upon the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to initiate as a matter of urgency, discussions with the Saudi Arabian Government on this matter. We also call upon the Sri Lankan Government to enter into bilateral agreements with the Gulf countries that will prevent the imposition of punishment of this nature on Sri Lankan migrant workers.

"We also call upon the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to give wide publicity to the laws of the Gulf countries and provide information on the punishments imposed for acts considered to be crimes in those countries."