Sudanese Feminist Hero Forced into Hiding

by Phyllis Chesler
Pajamas Media
August 4, 2009

http://www.phyllis-chesler.com/597/sudanese-feminist-hero-forced-into-hiding

Excerpt:

Today, Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein went to receive her 40 lashes in Khartoum. The world press and scores of female supporters were watching. I was watching, so to speak, from afar. However, the judge delayed her trial until September 7th. He first wants to consult the Foreign Ministry on "whether al-Hussein is immune from the charges because she was formerly a United Nations employee."

The delay disapointed al-Hussein. She refused to claim any UN immunity. Al-Hussein was ready to receive "40,000 lashes if such punishment was found to be constitutional." She is quoted as saying some fairly thrilling, very bold things:

"I'm ready for anything to happen. I'm absolutely not afraid of the verdict…Tens of thousands of women and girls have been whipped for their clothes these last 20 years. It's not rare in Sudan…I want people to know. I want these women's voices to be heard."

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