In Nigeria, Fatima Useman and Ahmadu Ibrahim were tried and convicted for adultery after they confessed to having sexual relations while Mrs. Usman was married to another man. As a result of the extramarital relationship, Mrs. Usman became pregnant. Both have been sentenced to death by stoning.

In August, an Islamic court in Katsina state upheld a death sentence against Amina Lawal, a woman convicted of adultery for bearing a child out of wedlock.

Thus far, none of the stoning sentences have been carried out due to pressure from the international community. However, it is germane to realize that these sentences have NOT been overturned. Nor have these cruel moralistic laws been eschewed.

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Moreover, several contestants are refusing to attend the Miss World pageant in Nigeria until these archaic, brutal forms of punishment are ended. Their social activism and awareness is to be commended since most people think that beauty queens are only interested in the swimsuit and evening gown competition.

In certain sections of South Africa, child rape of young girls is at epidemic proportions. In addition to the horror of these rapes is the fact that law enforcement in many villages and cities is not willing to arrest these individuals.

Essence Magazine reported that young girls and even female infants in small communities in South Africa were being raped at such alarming rates that mothers are afraid to allow their daughters out publicly.

While I cited two African countries, there are several other countries, such as Saudi Arabia and, until recently, Afghanistan, that treat women with contempt and loathing and view women as mere sex objects.

Additionally, the countries that foster the sentiments that males are superior and women are only needed to deliver more males are equally at fault since they foster and actively encourage chauvinism and sexism, which often lead to abuse.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy to mention that men are usually exempt from rigorous rules and are allowed sexual freedom without reprisal. These paternalistic societies foster lasciviousness for males and punish all acts of sexual expression by women that occur outside of their narrowly set boundaries, even going to the degree of clitorectomy so that women cannot have orgasms.

The most troubling feature regarding the brutality toward international women is that there is little action taken to address the violence toward women by the United Nations and other groups – of course, Amnesty International is the notable exception.

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However, before we in America think that this type of violence toward women only occurs in other countries, it is noteworthy to mention that the No.1 killer of women in the United States at the workplace is homicide by their enraged partners. It has only been in the last few years that the domestic violence has been viewed as a crime and not a family problem

Additionally, Amnesty International has targeted many American women’s correctional facilities as being breeding ground for all sorts of abuse from systematic rape by prison guards and the chaining and shackling of pregnant women in labor.

So, what can we do as Americans? First, we can write our legislators and demand that international women be given basic human rights, and we can ask our government to put pressure on countries that commit these atrocities and execute people for private sexual behavior.

Additionally, we need to demand that all of our citizens even those who are incarcerated be treated in a humanitarian manner. Why should we care? We should care because as Dr. King said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”

LeNie is a junior in history. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.