塞拉利昂一位妇女被禁止出任酋长

Members of a Sierra Leone traditional group have besieged¹ a woman's house and stopped her from going home after she launched a legal bid to become a chief.

塞拉利昂一个传统组织成员包围了一位妇女的房子并阻止她回家，此前她曾发起成为酋长的合法申请。

Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu says she is fighting for all women

Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu was barred from an election to the chiefdom首领的权威，首领的地位 because she was a woman.

She lost an initial最初的 appeal against the ban - a ruling condemned² by women's rights groups who are vowing³ to take her case to the Supreme⁴ Court.

A BBC correspondent says politicians are afraid of angering traditionalists.

The BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown says the politicians also do not want to antagonise引起对抗，反感 women - making them afraid of the whole issue.

Women are barred from becoming chiefs in the Northern Province and most of the east but they are allowed in southern Sierra Leone.

'Unlawful and wrong'

Ms Sogbo-Tortu was protected by armed police, UN officials and women's rights campaigners when she tried to return to her home in the eastern Kono district on Monday.

But our reporter says the convoy⁵护送，护卫 had to turn around after they learnt that her house had been besieged包围 and her supporters targeted.

Members of the Poro secret society then threw stones at the convoy in the town of Sewase 40km (25 miles) from the district capital Koidu despite the presence of the security forces.

Ms Sogbo-Tortu is from a family of chiefs and after her disqualification, her nephew was chosen to be the new chief of Niminyama.

"Ten of us were in the race including my nephews, and I was the only one denied the right to stand, despite being the eldest⁶ and coming from a ruling house," Ms Sogbo-Tortu told the BBC.

"I want the courts to rule that it is my right as a woman to become paramount⁷最重要的，至高无上的 chief in my home district. And this is not just about me. It is about all women all over the country."

She has now returned to the capital, Freetown.

Yasmine Jusu-Sheriff, vice-chair of the Human Rights Commission told the BBC that she would take the case to the Supreme Court.

"We think [the disqualification] is illegal and unlawful and wrong."

Our reporter says that the position of paramount chief remains⁸ extremely powerful in Sierra Leone.

He says they command huge respect and are able to mobilise动员，调动 large numbers of votes during elections.

The chiefs are elected by local councillors.