Christian women sentenced to fines in Khartoum, others acquitted

12/08/2015 22:13

Three young Christian women have been convicted in a Khartoum court for wearing ‘obscene outfits’. They were each sentenced to a fine of SDG50 ($8.20) each or one month’s imprisonment.
The judge acquitted four others charged with the same offence.
A group of 12 young Christian Nuba women were held by the Public Order Police after a religious ceremony at the Baptist church in Khartoum North on the evening of 25 June. They wore trousers and skirts.

Three young Christian women have been convicted in a Khartoum court for wearing ‘obscene outfits’. They were each sentenced to a fine of SDG50 ($8.20) each or one month’s imprisonment.

The judge acquitted four others charged with the same offence.

The women are part of a group of 12 Christian Nuba students who were held by the Public Order Police after a religious ceremony at the Baptist church in Khartoum North on the evening of 25 June. They wore trousers and skirts.

They were released the next day, after ten were charged under Article 152 of the 1990 Penal Code, which states: “Whoever does in a public place an indecent act or an act contrary to public morals, or wears an obscene outfit, or contrary to public morals, or causing an annoyance to public feelings shall be punished with flogging, which may not exceed forty lashes or with fine or with both.”

One of the women, a minor of 17, was transferred to a juvenile court. Two others were convicted and sentenced to larger fines in July. One of them, Ferdous El Tom (19), was also sentenced to 20 lashes, according to Amnesty International.