By
MOHAMED OSMAN and SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press Writers Mohamed
Osman And Sarah El Deeb, Associated Press Writers – 1 hr 48 mins ago
KHARTOUM, Sudan – Sudanese police fired tear gas and beat
women protesting at the trial Tuesday of a female journalist who faces a
flogging for wearing trousers in public.
Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein could receive 40 lashes if
found guilty of violating the country's indecency law which follows a strict
interpretation of Islam. The 43-year-old says the law is un-Islamic and
"oppressive," and she's trying to use her trial to rally support to
change it.
"I am not afraid of flogging. ... It's about changing
the law," Hussein said, speaking to The Associated Press after a hearing
Tuesday.
Hussein said she would take the issue all the way to Sudan's
constitutional court if necessary, but that if the court rules against her and
orders the flogging, she's ready "to receive (even) 40,000 lashes" if
that what it takes to abolish the law.
Hussein was among 13 women arrested July 3 in a raid by the public order police on a popular cafe in
In an attempt to rally support, Hussein printed invitations
to diplomats, international media, and activists to attend her trial which
opened last week. She also resigned from her job in the U.N.'s public
information office in
Around 100 supporters, including many women in trousers as
well as others in traditional dress, protested outside the court Tuesday.
Witnesses said police wielding batons beat up one of
Hussein's lawyers, Manal Awad Khogali, while keeping media and cameras at bay.
No injuries were immediately reported.
"We are here to protest against this law that oppresses
women and debases them," said one of the protesters, Amal Habani, a female
columnist for the daily Ajraas Al Hurria, or Bells of Freedom in Arabic.
While the police broke up the demonstration outside the
Khartoum Criminal Court, the judge adjourned Hussein's trial for a month to
clarify whether her resignation has been accepted by the United Nations.
The 1991 indecency law was adopted by
Trousers are considered indecent under the law. Activists
and lawyers say it is implemented arbitrarily, and leaves the definition of
"indecent acts" up to the implementing police officer.
Hussein said the law is unconstituational, and is not
supported by Islamic text. Flogging is a
common punishment for drinking and making alcohol, and whatever else the law
enforcer deems indecent. Recently, a famous Sudanese singer, who took to the
stage under the influence of alcohol, was flogged.
"Flogging is an insult to human dignity," Hussein said. "If
the (rulers) claim this is based on Islamic Shariah (law), can anyone show me a
verse in the Quran or in
the prophet's teachings that speak of flogging women because of their dress code?"
Rabie Abdel Attie, a government spokesman, called the uproar
over the case politically motivated and said only the constitutional court can
decide to repeal the law.
"There is no need for all that noise. There are clearly
political motivations behind this thrust," he said.
The public order police
force patrols the streets of
Hussein said many women endure the flogging in silence,
because they fear the stigma associated with being tried under the indecency
law.
Hussein wore the same clothes Tuesday that she wore when
arrested, including the dark-colored pants that authorities found offensive.
She said she is required to wear the outfit to court so officials can see the
clothing when making their decision. But Hussein said she's also been wearing
the outfit every day, even when not in court, to highlight her case.
Her trial opened last Wednesday but immediately adjourned to
give her the opportunity to resign from her U.N. job.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" about Hussein's case and
that flogging is a violation of international
human rights standards.
The U.N. Staff Union urged authorities last week not to flog
Hussein, calling the punishment cruel, inhuman and degrading.
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El Deeb contributed to this report from