Amnesty reaction to British woman's adultery conviction

Amnesty International today reacted to the Emirate's Appeal Court upholding a British woman's conviction for adultery.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

'Marnie Pearce maintains that she is innocent, but that is not the only issue at stake here. If allegations are true and adultery charges were being brought to influence a custody battle, it would be deeply worrying. Custody should be a separate, civil matter where the children's best interests come first.

'Criminalising the sex lives of consenting adults is never right, let alone using this to back-up family laws which already discriminate against women.

'If Ms Pierce is jailed, Amnesty would consider her a Prisoner of Conscience who should be released immediately.'