Progressive British Muslims: "Islamic dress code of Sudan has nothing to do with Islam"
Press release - 6th August 2009
By Peter Wiggins, Press and Policy Officer
On 3 July, a group of policemen raided a café in Central Khartoum. Thirteen women were arrested simply for supposed ‘indecency' – these women were all wearing trousers. The women are alleged to have violated the Islamic Dress Code of Sudan. Ten of the women accepted a punishment of 10 lashes but three other women have chosen to challenge the decision.
Progressive British Muslims salute the particular bravery of Lubna Hussein. As an employee of the UN, she could have use diplomatic immunity to avoid punishment but she resigned from her job in order to challenge the dress code laws of Sudan. The United Nations Mission in Sudan is yet to accept her resignation and the case has been shelved until September. She could face a punishment of 40 lashes.
The wearing of trousers is not uncommon for Sudanese women. The ‘Public Order Police' make arbitrary arrests according to a political agenda. This case highlights the absurdity of the so-called ‘Islamic dress code' in Sudan. Progressive British Muslims also condemn the repression of the protesters, who were beaten and tear-gassed for demonstrating outside the court. Protestors, as well as some court officials, were wearing trousers in solidarity with Lubna Hussein.
Lubna told the Daily Telegraph :
"the acts of this regime have no connection with the real Islam, which would not allow the hitting of women for the clothes they are wearing and in fact would punish anyone who slanders a woman.”
Farmida Bi, Chair of Progressive British Muslims, has echoed this sentiment:
"the idea that the millions of Muslim women around the world who wears trousers are somehow betraying their religion is perfectly absurd. These arrests have nothing to do with Islam".
Progressive British Muslim expresses support for the many Sudanese women's groups who are lobbying to end the repressive dress code in Sudan. We urge that all those who support the rights of women is Sudan sign this petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/end-repressive-laws-targeting-women-in-sudan
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
PBM is a group of London based liberal minded Muslims who have decided to establish a platform to provide a voice for progressive British Muslims who feel unrepresented by the existing faith-based Muslim groups. We each have a cultural identity as Muslims that is important to us. We believe there is no single definitive version of Islam and that each individual must decide how best to live his or her life.