No lashings for Lubna as she had UN immunity when arrested but what about those without UN immunity?

The defence lawyer for Lubna Hussein says he thinks the court will drop the case, because at the time she committed the alleged action, Lubna was working with the UN and she was enjoying the UN’s immunity, and the immunity was not revoked at that time.  

The new date for the trial, 7 September, falls in the middle of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month when Muslims are supposed to renounce violence and refrain from all intolerant behaviour, dedicating the fast to peaceful contemplation.

From Sudan Radio Service, Tuesday, 04 August 2009:
Khartoum Trouser Trial Adjourned

(Khartoum) – Lubna Ahmed Hussein, the Sudanese journalist who has been accused by a court in Khartoum of dressing indecently, has had her case adjourned for a month.

Hussein spoke to Sudan Radio Service after the hearing. She explained why she chose to have her UN immunity lifted so that she could appear before the court.

[Lubna Hussein]: “The judge told me to choose between continuing the case and insisting on having UN immunity. I told him that I respect the agreement between the Sudan government and the UN, and because of that I will resign from the UN, so I don’t violate the agreement and that’s what happened. I have resigned from the UN because I belong to this nation, and because there are ten of thousands of women who are being lashed every day and the have no immunity and don’t work for the UN.”

The defense lawyer of the accused journalist, Nabil Adib, spoke to Sudan Radio Service from Khartoum immediately after the court appearance on Tuesday.

[Nabil Adib]:”What happened is that when the court started the session, the judge said that after he checked the documents, he decided that the court should not continue the case before checking with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whether or not Lubna had UN immunity when she was arrested. The case was adjourned for one month so the judge can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to verify this issue.”

Adib said that he expects that the case might be dropped.

[Nabil Adib]: “I think the court will not continue with this case, because we know that at the time she committed the alleged action, Lubna was working with the UN and she was enjoying the UN’s immunity, and the immunity was not revoked at that time, so this is the response we are expecting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the ministry confirms this, the court will drop the case.”

Lubna Hussein’s defense lawyer, Nabil Adib, was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Khartoum.

So, it looks like good news, no lashings for Lubna as she had UN immunity when arrested. But what about all the Sudanese women and girls without UN immunity? Are they to be lashed by men for wearing trousers?

Click on label 'Sudan women 'lashed for trousers' (here below) to see related reports and how one can support Ms Hussein's campaign on Facebook to help change an archaic dress code law in Sudan that discriminates against females.

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From the Guardian, today - Lubna Hussein: justice deferred - excerpt:

The new date for the trial, 7 September, falls in the middle of Ramadan. This will work in Hussein's favour. Ramadan is a month when Muslims are supposed to renounce violence and refrain from all intolerant behaviour, dedicating the fast to peaceful contemplation.