If you are wondering what is Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein (that former journalist who last worked for the UN Mission in Sudan) doing nowadays, here is an update.
Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein became a celebrity of sort when she was arrested along with other women at a restuarant for wearing trousers. She was charged under Article 152 of the Sudanese criminal code for indecent dressing. She promptly resigned from the UN Mission in Sudan in order to waive her immunity from prosecution, and challenged the court to cane her for the criminal act of wearing a pair of trouser.
In a sense, Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein has embarked on a campaign of sort. She wanted Article 152 of the Sudanese criminal code to be amended or removed. She puts it this way: “The campaign has succeeded in showing the world that there are unfair laws against women in Sudan.”
But did this campaign achieve anything in Sudan itself? Apparently not. A few days ago, 2 other Sudanese women who were arrested at the same place and time with Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein were sentenced by Judge Hassan Mohamed Ali to 20 lashes of the cane and fined 250 Sudanese pounds. They were charged under Article 152 of the Sudanese criminal code with the same offense of committing an act of indecency by wearing trousers. Actually there were 12 other women, but 10 of them had pleaded guilty and were caned. The remaining 2 women appealed and we are now waiting to see what would happen to them.
In Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein’s case, her campaign resulted in the judge imposing only a fine without caning. But Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein refused to pay the fine, preferring to go to jail in default of paying the fine. However, a local journalist union paid her fine against her wishes, and she was freed after spending 1 night in jail.
Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein was in court to support these 2 women. She said that the latest sentencing showed her campaign still had a long way to go. Will she give up her campaign? No way. This is what she said: “We will keep on fighting.”
Who are these 2 women? Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein and lawyers and supporters are not saying. The reason is that these women came from conservative Muslim families. So it looks like Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein will be taking an active role in these 2 cases.
Think about it. Why is the Sudanese government intent on prosecuting women for wearing trousers? Why is wearing trousers a criminal offense in a Muslim country like Sudan?
Earlier posts
Woman’s Jeans OK In Iran, But Not In Sudan
Sudan Caning Case – Lubna Released, But What Next?
Sudan Caning Case – Lubna Hussein In Jail
Why Different Standards For Caning?
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