Safiya Hussaini, 35, condemned by an Islamic court...

Safiya Hussaini, 35, condemned by an Islamic court in Sokoto, Nigeria, to be stoned to death while buried up to her waist in sand, claims she was singled out because she is "a woman and poor", an argument that human rights groups have backed.
"People think that because I am poor I cannot defend myself. They are wrong," she said. While Hussaini claims to be confident that her appeal will succeed, she admits that she cannot "sleep or think properly until my name is cleared". If she succeeds, she plans to remarry her ex-husband. "I hope we can start again."
Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian president, has hinted Ms Hussaini might win a reprieve. Although his government has said that it cannot intervene in the legal process, it has provided Ms Hussaini with dozens of lawyers. Tahir Mai-Akwai, information commissioner for Sokoto, has also provided her with hope by admitting that the original ruling was flawed.
He said that authorities are now seeking a ruling that is "more manifestly fair".
"Both the defence and the prosecution were not given the opportunity to articulate certain arguments," he said. He declined to elaborate.