Relatives of a Nigerian man convicted of raping a nine-year-old girl have launched a last-minute appeal to try to prevent his sentence of death by stoning being carried out.

Officials at the Islamic court in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, in northern Nigeria, said the execution would be delayed while the appeal was considered, despite it coming well after the official deadline.

Amnesty International is campaigning against stoning sentences

The rapist, Surimu Mohammed Baranda, had confessed to the crime, and refused to appeal himself against the sentence.

Despite protests from the federal government and abroad, a number of people have been sentenced to death by stoning since Sharia law was adopted across a wide area of northern Nigeria.

But so far no death sentences have been carried out.

Click here for a map of Sharia states

The governor of Jigawa, Ibrahim Turaki, has refused to intervene over the case.

The Nigerian federal government regards the application of Sharia law in 12 mainly Muslim states in Nigeria as unconstitutional, but has so far not acted against its use.

Other cases

Last week, a couple in Niger state were sentenced to death after they confessed to a relationship outside marriage.

Women's rights groups say Sharia is harsh for women

Ironically, the couple had originally received only jail sentences but had appealed against what they considered then to be harsh judgements.

A higher Islamic court then ruled the death sentence and not a prison term was the mandatory punishment.

Last month another woman, Amina Lawal, lost an appeal against her conviction for adultery and faces stoning, unless she can get the ruling overturned in the high court.

She launched a high court appeal last week.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed sympathy for her and said he would weep for her family and for Nigeria if the appeal was not successful.

A woman convicted under very similar circumstances last year won her appeal a few months ago.

Several thieves have however had their hands amputated.

The introduction of Islamic holy law - or Sharia - in northern Nigeria's mostly Muslim states in the past two years has sparked violence in which hundreds of people have been killed.

Supporters of Sharia say they will not be deflected from upholding laws they see as the will of God.

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