A Turkish woman launched a 600-kilometer march Wednesday to back international appeals to pardon a Nigerian woman under sentence of death by stoning for having a child out of wedlock.
The 46-year-old Nazmiye Halvasi, a former politician, plans to complete her march from the capital of Ankara to Istanbul in 20 days.
"Stoning is murder and brutality. Its acceptance is inhumane. I am marching to condemn all kinds of murders," she said in a message on her web page.
Last month, a Nigerian court threw out an appeal by 30-year-old Amina Lawal, ordering her to be put to death under the strict Islamic Sharia law once her eight-month-old daughter is weaned. Her lawyers appealed the sentence, which has triggered an international outcry. (Albawaba.com)