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Cops Beat Women Protesting in Sudan

By MOHAMED OSMAN
,
AP
posted: 1 HOUR 52 MINUTES AGO
comments: 178
filed under: World News
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KHARTOUM, Sudan (Aug. 4) -- Sudanese police fired tear gas and beat women protesting outside a Sudanese court Tuesday during the trial of a female journalist accused of violating the Islamic dress code by wearing trousers in public.
Police moved in swiftly and dispersed about 50 protesters, mostly women, who were supporting Lubna Hussein, a former U.N. worker facing 40 lashes on the charge of "indecent dressing." Some of the women demonstrators wore trousers in solidarity with Hussein while others wore more traditional dress.
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Protest in Khartoum
Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein, right, flashes the V-sign to supporters Tuesday outside the courthouse in Khartoum, Sudan. The journalist faces 40 lashes after wearing trousers in a local restaurant last month--a violation of the nation's strict Islamic law.
Ashraf Shazly, AFP / Getty Images
Ashraf Shazly, AFP / Getty Images
Trousers are considered indecent under the strict interpretation of Islamic law, adopted by Sudan's Islamic regime which came to power after a coup led by President Omar al-Bashir in 1989. But activists and lawyers say the implementation of the law is arbitrary.
Hussein was among 13 women arrested July 3 in a raid by the public order police on a popular cafe in Khartoum. Ten of the women were flogged at a police station two days later and fined 250 Sudanese pounds, or about $120.
But Hussein and two others decided to go on trial. She has sought to publicize her case internationally, inviting human rights workers, Western diplomats and fellow journalists to witness her trial.
"I am not afraid of flogging. ... It's not about flogging. It's not about my innocence. It's about changing the law," Hussein said, speaking to The Associated Press after the hearing Tuesday.
She said she would take the issue all the way to Sudan's constitutional court if necessary, but that if the court rules against her and orders the flogging, she was ready "to receive (even) 40,000 lashes."
Hussein wore the same clothes Tuesday she wore when arrested, including the dark-colored pants that authorities found offensive. Although she was required to wear the same outfit to court so the judge and others could see the clothing, Hussein said she's been wearing it every day to highlight her case.
In the clashes outside the courtroom, witnesses said police wielding batons beat up one of Hussein's lawyers, Manal Awad Khogali, while keeping media and cameras at bay. No injuries were immediately reported.
"We are here to protest against this law that oppresses women and debases them," said one of the protesters, Amal Habani, a female columnist for the daily Ajraas Al Hurria, or Bells of Freedom in Arabic.
While the police broke up the demonstration outside the Khartoum Criminal Court, the judge adjourned Hussein's trial for a month to seek clarification from Sudan's foreign ministry.
At the time of her arrest, Hussein was working for the media department of the U.N. Mission in Sudan, which gives her immunity from prosecution. She submitted her resignation after her trial began last week because she wanted to go on trial to challenge the dress code law.
Defense lawyer Jalal al-Sayed told reporters Tuesday the judge wanted to know whether Hussein still has immunity because her superiors have not yet accepted the resignation.
Hussein's hearings first opened last Wednesday but immediately adjourned to give her the opportunity to resign.
Hussein has lauded her supporters, saying they showed that "Sudanese women from different political parties and groupings stand with us."
The case has drawn criticism from the United Nations. The U.N. Staff Union urged authorities last week not to flog Hussein, calling the punishment cruel, inhuman and degrading.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" about Hussein's case and said flogging was a violation of international human rights standards.
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Eye on the News
A baby wallaby sits in a zoo attendant's lap at the Edogawa Natural Zoo in Tokyo on Aug. 4. The staff at the zoo have raised the young wallaby ever since her mother neglected her.
Junko Kimura, Getty Images
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-08-04 12:22:03
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Modocdave3

05:49 PMAug 04 2009

That's nothing. Cops in this country have shot and killed men, women, children, and even pets for less. Our government and court systems fail to hold them accountable. I don't see why the media is sensationalizing the story in Sudan when it is no different from amerikkka.

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(2)

Mondialcorp2007

05:49 PMAug 04 2009

Laws are laws. If you speed in the USA you get a ticket/ If you piss in the street you get arrested. Even though some laws to us in the USA look wrong those are the laws of that country. Take it or leave it. If you want to be an assho*l and go against the government than bend over and take the punishement. Who know if she is trying to get money for her story or be on CNN lets watch and see.

AVG RATING:
(1)

WhttCrap

05:43 PMAug 04 2009

How many goats does it cost to buy one of these negro women?

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(1)

Collectedncalm

05:35 PMAug 04 2009

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THE GENOCIDICAL, TERRORIST SUPPORTING SUDANESE GOVERNMENT.

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(6)

Collectedncalm

05:32 PMAug 04 2009

kell8b- im not stuck on the wmds, im stuck on the fact that iraqs dictator killed terrorists and did not enforce islamic law.

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(2)

m9wez

05:31 PMAug 04 2009

who owns the sudan niggras, the arabs or egyptians ??

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(2)

Reeltime07

05:30 PMAug 04 2009

Richardsxy...because you let your heart speak your words rather than your body, (inside our body all hearts are the same color, that's how we know we of the 4 seperate peoples , are the complete circle of MAN) may your words be heard by those who live close to their hearts. I must go...I will think much upon your words.

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(0)

BocaBrad

05:29 PMAug 04 2009

Islam is an inferior religion. That is a fact. Any society or religion that condones the sort of things their beliefs do is against humanity and therefore inferior. Christianity isn't blameless either... throughout history and even now with their judgemental beliefs. At least Christians don't keep women in beekeeper oufits and beat them.For anyone to say that we must respect all religions I say POOP! Buddhists are a shining example of what a religion should be.... they don't judge, and they know they must excel themselves. You will NEVER find a buddhist terrorist.

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TumblingCactus

05:27 PMAug 04 2009

Their cops probably have read all of the GOP propaganda and every one of Limbaugh's books.

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Mr19409

05:27 PMAug 04 2009

As Christianity falters here in the US, Islam will spread. So like it or not ladies you know whats coming.

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Sudanese police fired tear gas and beat women protesting outside a Sudanese court Tuesday during the trial of a female journalist accused of violating the Islamic dress code by wearing trousers in public.