Sudan women sentenced to 40 lashes each... for daring to wear trousers in public

[mc_squared]

Sudan women sentenced to 40 lashes each... for daring to wear trousers in public

 

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 9:07 PM on 13th July 2009

 

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Enlarge Sudanese journalist Lubna Ahmed Al-Hussein wearing her trousers

 

A group of Sudanese women diners face up to 40 lashes - for wearing trousers.

The women have been accused of dressing 'indecently' while dining at a popular restaurant in Khartoum, the capital.

Up to 30 police stormed the building without warning and arrested those wearing trousers, 13 women in all.

Some have pleaded guilty - so they could ‘get it over with - and received 10 lashes.

Others though have not admitted their 'guilt' and could subsequently receive 40 lashes if tried and convicted by a court.

One of them, journalist Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein, told how the group of policemen stormed into the building without warning and arrested all the women wearing trousers.

'I was wearing trousers and a blouse and the ten girls who were lashed were wearing like me, there was no difference,' Ms Hussein told the BBC's Arabic service.

Ms Hussein is a well-known reporter who writes a weekly column called Men Talk for Sudanese papers. She also works for the United Nations Mission in Sudan.

The country is split in two – Muslim in Khartoum and the north and Christian in the south.

Several of those punished were from the south, although non-Muslims are not supposed to be subject to Sharia law, even in Islamic areas.

It was in Khartoum that British primary school teacher Gillian Gibbons, 55, spent a week in jail in 2007 after her class named a teddy bear Mohammed.

 

Enlarge Sudanese protesters burn the picture of the British teacher Gillian Gibbons during a demonstration in 2007

 

She faced 40 lashes for insulting Islam but was freed after the intervention of two British peers.

Sudan was ravaged by a two-decade civil war that killed 1.5 million of its 39 million people, only to plunge straight afterwards into the horror of the bloodshed in the western region of Darfur.

Two million people have fled their homes and more than 200,000 have been killed.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague this year issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

 

It is not the only country to enforce laws on dress.

In Iran, the religious police frequently launch crackdowns on indecency, rounding up hundreds of women for wearing ‘bad hijab.’

And a boutique owner was recently ordered to saw the breasts off the mannequins in his shop because they were ruled ‘indecent.’

In a dramatic example of Sharia law in Somalia, a 13-year-old girl was stoned to death last year for adultery after Islamist militants took control of the city of Kismayo.

In fact, Asha Ibrahim Dhuhulow had been raped by three armed men, but was arrested when her aunt took her to a police station to report the crime.

[Saffire]

This is the kind of news story that would make Hillary Clinton shudder.

[Jiminy Cricket]

Wow.

 

Just. Fucking. Wow.

 

This is why religion irritates me so much.

[mc_squared]

Wow.

 

Just. Fucking. Wow.

 

This is why religion irritates me so much.

 

Exactly. It's the root of so many problems in the world.;)

[Gautama]

:sick: omg...

[mc_squared]

It's a total disgrace.:angry:

[noonsun]

I am coming to the realization that the human race as a whole is enormously screwed.

 

:bigcry:

[Gautama]

^ oh yes :sick:

[Tnspieler1012]

and singin' bye bye miss american pie, drove the chevy to the levee but the levee was dry, and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singin this'll be the day that I die...do-do-do do-do do do do......

[bart]

Why do people think, they can judge other countries or peoples beliefs... !

[shipoffools]

I have nothing against religion, I'm a Christian myself. It's just frustrating when people use religion as an excuse to do bad things.

[SVA kills cliche]

It makes me sad that things like this still happen, and its the 21st century :sick:

[Matter-Eater Lad]

Exactly. It's the root of so many problems in the world.;)

 

If there was no religion people would just find another reason to do these things, its human nature. Humans are the root of all problems in this world.

[ivet]

and singin' bye bye miss american pie, drove the chevy to the levee but the levee was dry, and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singin this'll be the day that I die...do-do-do do-do do do do......

 

:laugh3: wow....

 

 

:sick:

[mc_squared]

I have nothing against religion, I'm a Christian myself. It's just frustrating when people use religion as an excuse to do bad things.

 

And anyone that thinks it's acceptable for someone to be whipped for wearing trousers needs their head examined.;)

[bart]

I have nothing against religion, I'm a Christian myself. It's just frustrating when people use religion as an excuse to do bad things.

 

Agreed... however we have no right to tell other countries how to manage their internal affairs.. ! Just my view. I see so many things becuase we belive the things we do.

[mc_squared]

Agreed... however we have no right to tell other countries how to manage their internal affairs.. ! Just my view. I see so many things becuase we belive the things we do.

 

However, when it comes to a breach of human rights, slavery, misogyny or oppression, "internal affairs" isn't relevant, as these issues transcend any "borders" and are totally inexcusable.

Whipping women for wearing trousers definitely falls in that category.;)

[Saffire]

Agreed... however we have no right to tell other countries how to manage their internal affairs.. ! Just my view. I see so many things becuase we belive the things we do.

 

Why do countries have this "right" (to not be told what to do), while individuals do not?

 

I'm sure if these women were to decide if they should be whipped or not, they'd choose not to be.

[mc_squared]

Why do countries have this "right" (to not be told what to do), while individuals do not?

 

I'm sure if these women were to decide if they should be whipped or not, they'd choose not to be.

 

Exactly. Sometimes a stand has to be made against barbaric practices like this.;)

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

I am coming to the realization that the human race as a whole is enormously screwed.

 

:bigcry:

i told you so some weeks ago.

 

so bad that, but not a surprise :shame:

i've read that in Yemen woman can lose their finger if they paint it. :\

 

i don't know why people allow those attitudes, those have nothing to do with religion, i mean, you can dislike something and so simply ignore it, but punish people that way (and always seems the only punished are the woman).

[Josh42]

This is why Anarchy is the only system that works.

[mc_squared]

i told you so some weeks ago.

 

so bad that, but not a surprise :shame:

i've read that in Yemen woman can lose their finger if they paint it. :\

 

i don't know why people allow those attitudes, those have nothing to do with religion, i mean, you can dislike something and so simply ignore it, but punish people that way (and always seems the only punished are the woman).

 

Exactly, hence the objection to women being forced (or brainwashed) to cover their faces too.;)

[Saffire]

Exactly, hence the objection to women being forced (or brainwashed) to cover their faces too.;)

 

And hot men being brainwashed into wearing shirts.

[twin4life]

When I read something like this I just think, shouldn't 30 police have something better to do? Really? Even though I know some places have the "fashion police" maybe they should have been trained as real police who could do something like protect people.