afrol News, 7 November - Special Representative of Secretary-General for Children and Armed conflict, has strongly condemned stoning to death a 13 year old Somali girl in Kismayo two weeks ago.

Ms Coomaraswamy, said she was horrified by stoning to death of a young girl who was convicted of adultery.

UNICEF reported that a 13 year old Somali girl, Aisha Duhulow, was stoned to death in a stadium of spectators in Kismayo on 27 October 2008 after having been found guilty of adultery.

Reports said a young woman first pleaded for her life. "Don't kill me, don't kill me," according to the man who wanted to remain anonymous, but few minutes later, more than 50 men threw stones, reports said.

However, reports indicate that she had been raped by three men while traveling on foot to visit her grandmother in the war-torn capital, Mogadishu. Following the assault, she sought protection from local leaders, who then accused her of adultery and sentenced her to death.

"The incident highlights the extreme nature of violence against children and women in Somalia which has been heightened by the increasing lawlessness," stated Ms Coomaraswamy.

She also raised serious concerns about widespread recruitment and use of children by all parties to the conflict, saying that children were killed and maimed on a daily basis in military operations.

"It is the duty of the international community and the local authorities to stop these violations and to ensure better protection for children. No efforts should be spared," concluded Ms Coomaraswamy.

Initial reports about stoned victim had said she was a 23-year-old woman who had confessed to adultery before a Sharia court. Numerous eye-witnesses say she was forced into a hole, buried up to her neck then pelted with stones until she died in front of more than 1,000 people.

Although cameras were banned from stoning in Kismayo, print and radio journalists who were allowed to attend execution, estimated that woman, Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow, was 23 years old.

However, Amnesty said it had learned she was 13, and that her father had said she was raped by three men.

When the family tried to report the rape, the girl was accused of adultery and detained, Amnesty said.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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