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Sudanese 'trousers' woman fined | Sudanese 'trousers' woman fined |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Sudanese woman charged with dressing indecently for wearing trousers has been fined but spared being lashed. | A Sudanese woman charged with dressing indecently for wearing trousers has been fined but spared being lashed. |
A court in Khartoum ordered Lubna Ahmed Hussein to pay the equivalent of about $200 (£122), warning that she would be jailed for a month if she refused. | A court in Khartoum ordered Lubna Ahmed Hussein to pay the equivalent of about $200 (£122), warning that she would be jailed for a month if she refused. |
Ms Hussein, a journalist in her 30s, could have been given up to 40 lashes. | |
She had quit her UN job, which would have given her immunity, saying she wanted her trial to become a test case for women's rights, correspondents say. | She had quit her UN job, which would have given her immunity, saying she wanted her trial to become a test case for women's rights, correspondents say. |
The announcement of the fine for Ms Hussein came shortly after the trial resumed on Monday. | The announcement of the fine for Ms Hussein came shortly after the trial resumed on Monday. |
The journalist - who appeared in the same kind of loose trousers, top and shawl she was wearing when arrested - was found guilty of wearing "indecent clothing" under article 152 of Sudanese criminal law. | |
Earlier, at least 40 protesters were held by police outside the courthouse in the Sudanese capital. Some of them were women reportedly wearing trousers in support for Ms Hussein. | |
All the protesters were later released on bail. | All the protesters were later released on bail. |
'Nothing wrong' | 'Nothing wrong' |
The BBC's James Copnall, who was outside the court in Khartoum, says Ms Hussein's supporters were heckled by Islamists, who tore up some of the women's homemade signs. | |
Ms Hussein wore loose trousers to the hearing in Khartoum | |
The presence of diplomats and human rights activists inside the court, and the protests outside, show that the trial has become a test case for women's rights in Sudan, our correspondent says. | |
It remains unclear whether Ms Hussein will pay the fine or opt to go to prison for a month. | |
It appears she was initially determined not to pay the fine, our correspondent says, but her lawyers are trying to convince her to do so. | |
Ms Hussein was arrested in July together with 12 other women who were wearing trousers. | Ms Hussein was arrested in July together with 12 other women who were wearing trousers. |
During the trial she argued that she had done nothing wrong under Sudan's indecency law. | During the trial she argued that she had done nothing wrong under Sudan's indecency law. |
On Friday, the London-based human rights group Amnesty International called on Khartoum to withdraw the charges against Ms Hussein and repeal the law used to justify flogging as a penalty for "indecent" dress. | On Friday, the London-based human rights group Amnesty International called on Khartoum to withdraw the charges against Ms Hussein and repeal the law used to justify flogging as a penalty for "indecent" dress. |
In a column published in the UK's Guardian newspaper on Friday, Ms Hussein wrote: "When I think of my trial, I pray that my daughters will never live in fear of these police... We will only be secure once the police protect us and these laws are repealed." |