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A tussle over trousers in Sudan
One moment everything was quiet on the streets outside the Khartoum courtroom where Lubna Hussein was on trial this morning, charged with indecency for wearing trousers.
The next, a three-way fight had exploded between riot police armed with crackling electric batons, women’s rights protesters waving banners and posters, and Islamists fuelled with righteous indignation and pious chants.
You couldn’t have asked for a better illustration of the opposing forces that have come piling down on Sudan’s government since the start of the case — opposing forces that also compete for influence at the heart of the Khartoum regime.
Women’s rights campaigners and other activists were the first to get involved after Sudan’s public order police barged into a party in the capital in July and found Lubna and 12 other female guests wearing trousers.
The activists saw it as a test case for the hundreds of women who get picked up every year in Khartoum, and face flogging for a range of for public order offences, mostly related to dress. Punishments aside, may women also complain about the sporadic way the law is applied and the lack of a clear definition of indecent dress.
The human rights protesters had a powerful case to make to a Sudanese government that is currently keen to cosy up to the West, in the hope of getting some of Washington’s crippling trade sanctions lifted. A highly publicised flogging would have been particularly bad news for Khartoum on Monday, two days ahead of an expected visit from the U.S. Sudan envoy Scott Gration.
I have nothing but admiration for Lubna Hussein. These repressive Laws have nothing to do with the Koran but everything to do with Bigots and Misogynists who have captured the religion and use Islam to subjugate their womenfolk. From Lubna to the 300 Women in Kabul, we have the stirrings of a reaction and given the landscape in these countries, these Women are extremely bold. And they need to be supported. I remain a little bamboozled as to how slow we have all been in the West to support what is an inalienable right.
The Muslim World is going nowhere in the c21st if they continue to quarantine their Women. They are not even in the game. Human Capital is King and and you need to empower Your Women wherever you maybe.
Lubna was highly effective at making the case and making Fools of the establishment and that is what is required. Its no different from Emily Pankhurst and that time.
Aly-Khan Satchu
http://www.rich.co.ke
Twitter alykhansatchu