Former slave wins landmark compo case

The West African country of Niger has been found guilty of failing to protect a woman sold into slavery.
A court has ordered the Niger Government to pay the woman $32,000.
Hadijatou Mani was just 12 years old when she sold to a man, who forced her to perform domestic and agricultural work.
She served him for 10 years and also became his sex slave, bearing him children.
"My master has four wives. We the slaves were doing all the housework like cooking, fetching water and firewood. I was beaten so many times."
Ms Mani accused the Niger government of failing to protect her from slavery, which was criminalised five years ago.
Her lawyer, Ibrahim Kane, says the judgement will bring hope to other slaves.
"There are thousands and thousands of slaves in Niger who will be today relieved to hear that you know the practice of slavery in this country is not allowed," he said.

Anti Slavery International estimates there are still at least 43,000 slaves in Niger.

Religion of Peace at it Again

Woman buried to neck and stoned to death for adultery.

THOUSANDS of people gathered to witness 50 Somali men stone a woman to death after an Islamic court found her guilty of adultery, witnesses say.
Aisho Ibrahim Dhuhulow, who had been found guilty of extra-marital intercourse by a court in the southern port of Kismayo, was buried in the ground up to her neck while the men pelted her head with rocks today, the witnesses said.
"Our sister Aisho asked the Islamic Sharia court in Kismayo to be charged and punished for the crime she committed," local Islamist leader Sheikh Hayakallah told the crowd.
"She admitted in front of the court to engaging in adulterous sexual intercourse," he said.
"She was asked several times to review her confession but she stressed that she wanted Sharia law and the deserved punishment to apply."
The execution was carried out in one of the city's main squares.
The port of Kismayo was seized in August by a coalition of forces loyal to rebel leader Hassan Turki, and the Shebab, the country's main radical Islamist insurgent organisation.
The new administration began implementing a strict form of Sharia (Islamic law).
"This afternoon we are telling the people of Kismayo that we are practising a punishment that is rare in this region and was carried out in Kismayo for the first time," Sheikh Hayakallah said.
Cameras were banned from the public stoning but print and radio journalists were allowed to attend.

Thousands of people gathered for the slaughter.