http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,26072013-7583,00.html?from=public_rss
SUDANESE journalist Lubna Hussein's courage in challenging the absurdity of her trial, sentencing and imprisonment for wearing trousers has spotlighted the penal codes still in force in many Arab and Muslim states.
These not only violate the internationally recognised rights of women in several respects but also international laws against torture.
I still shudder when I remember the provisions of one Arab code that described the appropriate techniques to use with someone sentenced to crucifixion and how to position a person for flogging, using a chair.
What made it worse was that this was a revised code passed in 1994 and not some holdover from medieval times. The Sudanese criminal code under which Hussein was charged was passed in 1991.
Hard to believe though it is, most Arab states have signed the international Convention Against Torture. Then again, the US has too, and that did not stop its top officials from sanctioning torture.
Not all prohibitions against immodest behaviour in Arab penal codes have been as bizarrely applied as in Sudan.
More at link...
SUDANESE journalist Lubna Hussein's courage in challenging the absurdity of her trial, sentencing and imprisonment for wearing trousers has spotlighted the penal codes still in force in many Arab and Muslim states.
These not only violate the internationally recognised rights of women in several respects but also international laws against torture.
I still shudder when I remember the provisions of one Arab code that described the appropriate techniques to use with someone sentenced to crucifixion and how to position a person for flogging, using a chair.
What made it worse was that this was a revised code passed in 1994 and not some holdover from medieval times. The Sudanese criminal code under which Hussein was charged was passed in 1991.
Hard to believe though it is, most Arab states have signed the international Convention Against Torture. Then again, the US has too, and that did not stop its top officials from sanctioning torture.
Not all prohibitions against immodest behaviour in Arab penal codes have been as bizarrely applied as in Sudan.
More at link...