Amira Osman Hamed, a Sudanese woman may be flogged if convicted for leaving her hair uncovered in defiance of a “Taliban”-like law. According to Sudanese law, her hair – along with every other women – is supposed to be covered with a hijab.
According to sources, her case has drawn support from civil rights activists and is the latest to highlight Sudan’s series of laws governing morality which took effect after the 1989 Islamist-backed coup by President Omar al-Bashir.
Charged under Article 152 of the Sudanese law which prohibits “indecent” clothing, Amira says the current government wants the women of Sudan to be “like Taliban women”.
“This public order law changed Sudanese women from victims to criminals,” says Hamed, a divorced computer engineer who runs her own company.
“This law is targeting the dignity of Sudanese people.”
In August, Amira was visiting a government office when a policeman aggressively told her to cover her head. He asked if she was Sudanese and what her religion was.
She responded: “I’m Sudanese. I’m Muslim, and I’m not going to cover my head”.
Amira was detained for several hours, charged and then bailed. In 2002, Amira was charged for wearing trousers, but a lawyer managed to help her get off with a fine, instead of whipping.
According to Amira, a lot of women in Sudan do not have the benefit of legal assistance, and are too ashamed to tell their families, which leaves them at the mercy of the court, and vulnerable to sexual harassment by the police.
“There are many (who) wear it because they are afraid, not because they want to wear it”.
A woman who was detained twice in Sudan, remembers the police telling her: “You are a slut. You want guys to sleep with you. That’s why you are wearing like this”.
Amira is not afraid of the punishment that comes her way. She is ready for the sentence as she hopes that the world knows this is what’s happening in Sudan.
“I take a risk to tell what is happening in our country and I hope that will be the last time a Sudanese woman is arrested by this law.” [Source]
Don’t forget to share your thoughts about this story.
