I wanted to give an update on this post from last week, about Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein, who was arrested and threatened with 40 lashes for wearing pants in a public cafe. As if the story wasn't disturbing enough, new details have emerged in the past week. Two days ago, the NYTimes posted an opinion piece from a reporter (who must remain unnamed for safety, as she is still in Sudan) who got a rare chance to speak with Hussein about the ordeal. Though Lubna was set to face her trial and verdict earlier this week, the trial has been postponed (for the second time) until September.
Among the new details is the mention of other women who were arrested along with Hussein; in fact, they were young schoolgirls under the age of 18. Not only were they under the standard age of majority, but they were also of the Christian faith, not Muslim. So, technically, "public morality" laws of Sudan are not supposed to apply to them. Regardless, the families of the schoolgirls did not have the money to bail them out of jail, nor were they able to provide the young girls with legal representation. They were not as lucky as Lubna; according to the NYT's writer, "For the remaining ten... immediate flogging in order. One of the schoolgirls was so terrified she wet her pants before her flogging began."
The comments made on the NYT piece echo some of the ideas in GCNova's original blog post. Religion, is a choice, belief, and passion of the soul. As such, it should never be mandated or enforced by any government or police authority. Lubna is quoted as saying, "What I wear is about the relationship between me and my God. Show me what paragraph of the Quoran, or quote my Prophet Mohammed saying it is the responsibility of the government to punish people in this way... If someone does dress in an unsuitable way, it is to God that she has to answer."
Lubna has refused the diplomatic immunity offered to her as a UN staffer; instead, she has resigned her position and will go to trial in the hopes that the media attention drawn to the issue will bring about change in Sudan's laws and treatment of women.
The NYT reporter closes with these words: "In a country where accepting the status quo is taken by many to be a pre-requisite to survival, and in a world where high-minded principles often fall casualty to self-interest, Lubna's actions make her something of a rarity. But as was clear from her well-wishers at [the cafe], she is not alone in believing that she is right to challenge this law."
She's not alone, and neither are we :)
PS- As a summer intern for the Representative Babette Josephs (D-182) of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, I was able to bring this issue to the attention of my boss. I'm now working on research of the issue in order to prepare a House Resolution, urging the UN to ensure the proper treatment of Lubna and other Sudanese women.
Couple of other stories worth mentioning...
Uganda is seeking to ban miniskirts because they're apparently comparable to running around naked, and also a major cause of traffic accidents. Apparently, wearing a miniskirt automatically invites someone to sexually harass and assault you. This is not only ludicrous, but insulting to men as well, as Uganda's ethics and integrity minister claims that Uganda men are "weak" and just can't help being distracted and crashing their cars upon seeing a woman bare her legs. Um, seriously? Read about it here.
And, visit this CNN story about growing protests of Burundi's homosexuality laws. In the east African nation, it is actually illegal to be homosexual; violation of the law can result in up to 2 years in prison. And no, it is not an ancient, archaic law. It was enacted this April.
In less serious news, finalized a tshirt design last night that I absolutely love. It incorporates all the colors of the Zimbabwe flag and sends a definite message. The front displays three less-admired generalized qualities of young people, and the back proudly announces the truth about the power of youth. So, as we come towards you, you might see just a couple of young kids... but as you watch us leave, you'll realize we definitely left our mark.
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