Champions!!!

It's been a while since I've done a Champion post. This woman definitely deserves this as well as the women who are protesting the court in solidarity for her. They are quite literally putting their lives on the line.

CHAMPION

for standing up against misogyny and for standing up for women's freedom and rights in oppressive governments

Lubna-Ahmed al-Hussein is a journalist with the United Nations Mission in Sudan. She, along with eleven other women were arrest for wearing "indecent clothing" at a public restaurant. And what was she wearing? A loose-fitting top, headscarf and green slacks. Ten of the women have already accepted their punishment of 10 lashes.

Lubna-Ahmed will not accept that. She wore the same outfit to court and was sentenced to 40 lashes. She plans to appeal (and wear the outfit to court again).

"If I'm sentenced to be whipped, or to anything else, I will appeal. I will see it through to the end, to the constitutional court if necessary," Hussein said. "And if the constitutional court says the law is constitutional, I'm ready to be whipped not 40 but 40,000 times."

She is trying to have the law repealed (***The Sudan is muslim, right? Long live the religion of peace.***).

The most amazing part of this story is that she waived her immunity as a U.N. worker to fight for the rights of women in Sudan. She said that thousand of women have been flogged over the last twenty years for their clothing, but they fear coming forward and making this a known to the world because of possible retribution.

She is an incredibly brave woman. And I will keep her in my prayers.

Story Here

More Champions of the Cause

Police Beat Women Opposing Sudan Dress Code Trial

KHARTOUM, Sudan — 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.

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.

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.


Peace Out,

~*~*~Krystal~*~*~