Indecent
Sharia is not supposed to apply to non-Muslims — but it does. An update on this story. “Christian Sudanese woman facing 40 lashes for wearing trousers,” from the Daily Mail, July 30 (thanks to all who sent this in):
A Christian woman who faces 40 lashes for wearing trousers in Sudan made a dramatic appearance in court yesterday to fight her case.
Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein walked into the packed hearing in the same green slacks that got her arrested.
Under Islamic laws used in parts of the country, it is illegal for a woman to wear trousers rather than long skirts in public.
But the law is not supposed to apply to non-Muslims like Miss Hussein, a former journalist who works for the United Nations.
And it is only imposed sporadically in the capital, Khartoum, where she was arrested.
Indecency cases are not uncommon in Sudan, but Miss Hussein has used hers to campaign against dress codes….She said before the hearing: ‘Thousands of women are punished with lashes in Sudan but they stay silent. The law is being used to harass women and I want to expose this.’
She said a number of other women arrested with her received lashes. But her case was sent for trial when she called in a lawyer.
Northern Sudan is governed by Islamic law which includes restrictions on public decency, particularly for women….