Justice For Noura

"I accept this verdict proudly and bravely. If this is the justice of the human being, I prefer to die than to continue in such unfair life." - Noura Hussein

Sudan has a ranking of 165 of 188 on the United Nations’ Gender Equality Index, which gives an indication of women’s access to education, healthcare, political participation and employment opportunities as compared to men. 19-year old Noura Hussein is now paying the price for her country’s lack of laws criminalising child marriage and marital rape, as well as their weak policies against discrimination against women.

Noura was only 16 years old when she was forced into marriage, moving into her husband’s home after her father signed her marriage contract. (In Sudan, it is legal for a girl over 10 years of age to be married by their guardian with the permission of a judge.) Refusing to consummate her marriage, she was held down by three of her husband’s male relatives as he raped her. The next day, when her husband attempted to rape her again, Noura stabbed her husband, killing him.

During her trial in July 2017, Noura was found guilty of ‘intentional murder’ and sentenced to death. Since May 2017, Noura has been held in a women’s prison. Joint statements from organisations such as UN Women, UN Office of the Special Advisor on Africa and UN Population Fund have pressed for the pardoning of Noura by Sudanese authorities. "This is an opportunity for the Sudanese authorities to show they do not condone rape in any shape or form, and save the life of a young woman whose existence has already been devastated for reasons largely beyond her control at a very young age," a spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement.

Women’s rights advocates accuse Sudan’s legal system of failing to protect the vulnerable and resolve issues regarding gender-based violence and an online petition calling for Noura’s pardon has garnered over a million signatories. The hashtag #JusticeForNoura has been trending as public figures and activists, together with millions of people, have been advocating for clemency for Noura.

With Noura’s appeal deadline looming, the world is looking to Sudan to prove themselves capable of addressing the flaws of gender-discrimination in their legal system.