Defence lawyer Jalal al-Sayed told reporters Tuesday the judge wanted to know whether Hussein still has immunity because her superiors have not yet accepted the resignation. Further details from Associated Press here below.
Photo: A Sudanese activist march in support to Lubna Hussein, who faces a punishment of 40 lashes on the charge of "indecent dressing." Tuesday Aug. 4, 2009, outside a Khartoum court where Hussein is going on trial for wearing trousers in public, a violation of the country's strict Islamic laws. Arabic slogan read as "Lubna case, is all women case". (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
Photo: Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein, right, who faces 40 lashes on the charge of "indecent dressing", flashes a victory sign to her supporters as she enters the court in Khartoum Tuesday Aug. 4, 2009, where she is going on trial for wearing trousers in public, a violation of the country's strict Islamic laws. Arabic slogan read as "No, for exporting our rights by the name of law". (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
Photo: Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein, right, is kissed by a supporter as she enters court in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday Aug. 4, 2009, on charges of wearing trousers in public. Hussein faces a punishment of 40 lashes on the charge of "indecent dressing", a violation of the country's strict Islamic laws.(AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
Police beat women opposing Sudan dress code trial
AP report by Mohamed Osman, Tuesday, 04 August 2009 - excerpt:
KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudanese police fired tear gas and beat women protesting outside a Sudanese court Tuesday during the trial of a female journalist accused of violating the Islamic dress code by wearing trousers in public.Click on label in footnote here below for previous reports and updates.
Police moved in swiftly and dispersed about 50 protesters, mostly women, who were supporting Lubna Hussein, a former U.N. worker facing 40 lashes on the charge of "indecent dressing." Some of the women demonstrators wore trousers in solidarity with Hussein while others wore more traditional dress.
Trousers are considered indecent under the strict interpretation of Islamic law, adopted by Sudan's Islamic regime which came to power after a coup led by President Omar al-Bashir in 1989. But activists and lawyers say the implementation of the law is arbitrary.
Hussein was among 13 women arrested July 3 in a raid by the public order police on a popular cafe in Khartoum. Ten of the women were flogged at a police station two days later and fined 250 Sudanese pounds, or about $120.
But Hussein and two others decided to go on trial. She has sought to publicize her case internationally, inviting human rights workers, Western diplomats and fellow journalists to witness her trial.
"I am not afraid of flogging. ... It's not about flogging. It's not about my innocence. It's about changing the law," Hussein said, speaking to The Associated Press after the hearing Tuesday.
She 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 was ready "to receive (even) 40,000 lashes."
Hussein wore the same clothes Tuesday she wore when arrested, including the dark-colored pants that authorities found offensive. Although she was required to wear the same outfit to court so the judge and others could see the clothing, Hussein said she's been wearing it every day to highlight her case.
In the clashes outside the courtroom, 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 seek clarification from Sudan's foreign ministry.
Defense lawyer Jalal al-Sayed told reporters Tuesday the judge wanted to know whether Hussein still has immunity because her superiors have not yet accepted the resignation.
Hussein's hearings first opened last Wednesday but immediately adjourned to give her the opportunity to resign.
Hussein has lauded her supporters, saying they showed that "Sudanese women from different political parties and groupings stand with us."
Tear gas fired at protesters outside Lubna Hussein trial
Times Online - - 6 hours ago
Lubna Hussein, a widow in her 30s, has drawn attention to her case in a bid to change clause 152 of the Sudanese penal code that makes women liable to be ...
Police beat women opposing Sudan dress code trial The Associated Press
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Sharia law is just evil. Anyone who thinks sharia law is ok seriously needs their head examined.
ReplyDeleteI hope sharia law CEASES to exist.