Teenager flogged for premarital sex

Group, May/Jun 2001 by Roller, Julia

MAGAZU, Nigeria-In January Nigerian authorities flogged 17-yearold Bariya Magazu 100 times for engaging in premarital sex. When she became pregnant out of wedlock, Magazu was charged and sentenced at a local Islamic court for her obvious violation of the sharia (Islamic law) prohibition against premarital sex.

Although authorities waited until Magazu delivered her baby to proceed with the punishment, human rights groups protested that she shouldn't have been lashed while still breastfeeding her new baby. Magazu said she accepted the decision but was afraid of being caned.

During the trial, Magazu said her father had pressured her to have sex with three village men and that one had fathered her child. All three men were released after they swore on the Koran, the holy book of Islam, that they were innocent. Magazu was then sentenced to 100 lashes for premarital sex and 80 lashes for "false accusations" against the three men. Later, Chief Judicial Registrar Muhammud Tukur Anka overturned the additional 80 lashes but upheld the 100-lash punishment.

Anka was undaunted by international criticism, including the Canadian governments characterization of the situation as an "appalling case."

"We don't mind about human rights," he says. "We are following the rule of Allah. Therefore we don't care whatever the people are saying."

Christians don't flog other Christians for premarital sex, but that doesn't make the issue any less prominent in Christian circles. Do you believe premarital sex is always a sin? Why or why not? Are the repercussions of premarital sex different for males and females? Explain.

Why are sexual sins highlighted by some religious leaders and downplayed by others? How do you think Christians should deal with issues such as premarital sex? How does your church deal with such issues? Do you agree with this method? Why or why not?

Some Christian leaders say that the first person you have sex with is your spouse in God's eyes. Do you agree? Why or why not? Others say that when you have sex before marriage you commit adultery against your future spouse. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Scripture links: Genesis 2:24; Deuteronomy 22:13-21; Matthew 5:27-28; 19:4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:1-2, 8-9; Hebrews 13:4.