November 12-20, 2002: 17 women from the village of...

November 12-20, 2002: 17 women from the village of Munwashi, 80 km north of Nyala in Darfour, Western Sudan, were convicted of adultery and each sentenced to 100 lashes of the whip.
The reason given for the charges of adultery brought against the women was that they are all unmarried, but have given birth to babies who are now between the ages of 6 - 12 months. This information was obtained by the 'Popular Committee' in the village of Munwashi and then passed on to the police, who arrested the women from their homes and from the marketplace in Munwashi.
Summary trials (muhaakma ijaaziya) were held between 12 and 20 November to try the women, none of whom were given any legal representation. All of the punishments were carried out on the same day as sentencing, giving the women no opportunity to seek legal advice or to make appeals.
No men have been charged in connection with the incidents.