It is rare for Sudanese women to take a public stance on any issue, let alone her right to defy the dress code and challenge the laws of decency. Hussein is not afraid to face the maximum penalty of 40 lashes for her bravery.
Wearing the same green slacks that caused her arrest, a former United Nations journalist, Lubna Hussein, created chaotic scenes when she appeared in court. Hussein quit her job at the United Nations as her position appeared to give her immunity.
Hussein was among 13 women arrested in July, when members of the public-order police force raided a party at a popular restaurant in Khartoum’s Riyadh district. All but three of the women were flogged at a police station two days later and fined 25 Sudanese pounds (around $120).
A woman wearing pants publicly is considered indecent, by the strict interpretation of Islamic law adopted by Sudan’s Islamic regime. The restrictions however, on public decency, are only spasmodically enforced in Khartoum, though indecency cases are not uncommon in Sudan.
Islamic Sharia law was implemented in Sudan when an army coup led by President Omar al-Bashir seized power in 1989, toppling an elected but ineffective government. However activists and lawyers say the implementation of the law is arbitrary.
Hussein said “Thousands of women are punished with lashes in Sudan but they stay silent. The law is being used to harass women and I want to expose this.” Lashings are handed out as a punishment for a variety of dismeanours, ranging from wearing pants publicly to brewing alcohol. “This article is against the constitution and even against Islamic law itself,” said Hussein after the hearing.
Human rights groups are closely watching the proceedings in this test case. Diplomats from various embassies attended the court hearing, including France, Canada, Sweden and Spain. There were also politicians and members of the Sudanese Women’s Union present, plus many supporters wearing pants.
A senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, (SPLM) the strongest party in southern Sudan said “The SPLM is calling for this law to be repealed. It humiliates both Christian and Muslim women.” Flogging is against the international human rights standards.
The question has to be asked, why was this particular group of women signaled out in this restaurant? Particularly as one of them was a woman journalist. Was it because she dared to write criticisms against the Sudanese oppressive regime?
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Tags: female journalist stands against decency laws of Sudan, female student journalist faces 40 lashes, students flogged for wearing pants in public, Sudanese student arrested for breaking decency laws, Sudanese student wears pants to court, women's rights
One Response to “Challenging The Decency Laws”
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August 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Challenging The Decency Laws…
Standing against any draconian law takes lots of courage and determination, as displayed by Sudanese student journalist who was arrested for wearing pants in public….