The public order police in Sudan have filed a complaint against female journalist Amal Habbani, editor of the "Tiny Issues" column in "Ajrass Al Horreya" newspaper over a 12 July story entitled "Lubna...A Case of Subduing a Woman's Body," in which she defended Lubna al-Hussein, one of 13 women reportedly arrested - and in some cases flogged - earlier this month for wearing trousers in a Khartoum restaurant.
According to a press release issued by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) on Friday, Amal is being charged under Article 159 of the 1991 Criminal Code, which deals with defamation. If convicted, she could face a fine of 10 million Sudanese pounds or almost $3 million Euros.
"The International Press Institute (IPI) calls on the Sudanese authorities to immediately drop all charges against Amal Habbani," said IPI Director David Dadge. "Such unjust cases weaken the credibility of the Sudanese judiciary and undermine the rule of law in the country. The Sudanese government must accept that the media has a legitimate right to criticise cases where there are concerns about the fair administration of justice."
Lubna al-Hussein and 12 other women were arrested on 3 July by a group of public order police for wearing trousers and accused of "sensational dressing up" and threatening the values of Sudanese society under Article 152 of the 1991 Criminal Code.
Ten of the women opted to plead guilty, and immediately received 10 lashes and were fined 250 Sudanese pounds.
Lubna, along with two others, opted to take legal counsel and fight the charges. Having taken this route, the women could now face up to 40 lashes.
In a move lauded by ANHRI and other human rights groups, Lubna mailed around 500 invitations to the media and rights groups, asking them to attend her trial and expected flogging.
In the northern part of Sudan including Khartoum, women traditionally wear clothing that covers their faces and bodies, and Sharia law is still implemented. According to ANHRI, Lubna and the others facing trial were not provided with legal counsel and are not allowed to speak for themselves in court.
The Sudanese parliament recently passed a new press law, which, although removing provisions that allow for journalists' imprisonment, give courts the right to impose unlimited fines. The amendments also give the National Press and Publication Council, which is closely linked to the President, the ability to close newspapers for three days without a court ruling.
Sudan already has a poor record on press freedom. According to a 2008 UNHCR report, journalists have in recent years faced harassment, intimidation, attacks and direct censorship at the hands of both government and non-government forces. For example, in early 2007 the private Arabic-language daily Al-Sudani was closed down for several days for violating a ban on coverage of the murder of the former editor-in-chief of the private daily Al-Wifaq, who was beheaded in 2006. And in April 2007, BBC journalist Jonah Fisher was expelled from the country because of his coverage of the region.
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Dear All
Thank you for your continuous support of human rights in Africa and beyond, it is a great work that much needed in the world today.
Unfortunately, and after reading the article about the 12 Sudanese women arrested at a restaurant in Sudan for wearing trousers as you have described , I felt that your organization have lost it is creditability as far as myself and many readers are concerned , your information are completely wrong , your described reasons for the arrest are completely falls and it sounded like someone looking for something against Islam and Sudanese Traditions and customs to publish and convey this the world very untruthfully.
As a well established respectful Organization like yours, the least to be done is to verify the information you receive before publishing it, as well as also protect the rights of those humans you are denouncing based on wrong information, which is also is a form of abuse of rights when you accuse or criticize a religion or a tradition of a certain group based on wrong perceptions
The following are the Facts (correction) to the article published:
First, No woman will be ever arrested in Sudan for wearing trousers:
Women are free to wear them any where any time as long as they are not suggestive or steer the general public code of politeness norms ( according to traditions and religion). Same as: No swimwear in malls! in USA or any other descent country.
Second, Women in Sudan Do Not all wear clothes cover their faces and bodies , some do but certainly this is not the every day average Sudanese woman , and certainly not required by Islam or Sudanese culture , although some do wear that but it is a personal preference not by an imposed Islamic Law or any other Laws in Sudan.
Third, the fine is not equivalent to 3 million Euros; 10 Million Sudanese is equivalent to 4500 US Dollars.
Fourth, women arrested (and this can be verified in many ways, one of them common sense without prejudices) were wearing what has been described locally by people at the same restaurant at that time (some of them are not Sudanese nor Muslims) as very reveling, very disrespectful to Families, kids and general acceptable politeness standards at a Restaurant any where in the world.
Indeed, Judiciary system and freedom of press is for sure need a lot of work to improve, your organization and many others are limiting the chances for changes needed when such a very untrue press releases are published, it result in loss of creditability of the organization and give it face and impression of an organization that just wanted to attack and criticize the very hart of our believe and culture for the benefit of some other anti Islamic prejudice discriminative group or interests. This is the very reason that not much has been achieved in this regard.
Please do not make us loose our trust in your creditability, we need you to support Human rights in Africa and the world, and not to insult us by publish an article that is not true and dose not represent the real Sudan
Please Note: I am not a member of any political group in Sudan , just an average Sudanese who have mother, sisters and a wife that are very free to wear or go where they want without been subject to cover their bodies or faces
Suggestion: Please Visit Sudan and see for yourself. I assure you that you will not write such and insulting article about Sudan if you see what Sudan is.
Thank you for your time.
Regards
Nazar Elhassan.