Sudanese Women Can Finally Wear Trousers, Dance And Drink Alcohol

by Sanjana Shenoy
Sudanese Women Can Finally Wear Trousers, Dance And Drink Alcohol

Women! Let me ask you a question? What is freedom mean to you? Is it freedom, when you can fearlessly travel walk on the streets at night, is the decision to get married to whom you want when you want or is it the choice to be unabashedly yourself irrespective of the situation? And the funny thing is, no matter what freedom means to you, every woman out there, might always have one reason that would make her feel restricted, be it person, place or the unfortunate societal norms. But here’s a glimmer of hope. After 30 long years, Sudanese women can finally wear trousers, dance and drink alcohol without the fear of being imprisoned, beaten or fined. For those of you don’t know Sudan has lifted a 3-decade old ban on morality laws, imposed by now-ousted President Omar al-Bashir on women’s freedom.

Picture Credits: vox.com

What’s In It?

Inspired by Sharia Law, women in Sudan earlier were severely punished through imprisonment, flogging, stone-pelting and fines for wearing trousers, dancing or drinking alcohol. But now after the nationwide silent protests for democratic rule in Sudan, the morality laws have been banned after due pressure from international human rights organizations. Dignity is finally restored to the Sudanese women, and we couldn’t have been happier. Deputy director at Amnesty International for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, Seif Magango has stated that it’s a big step forward for women’s rights in Sudan. She further added that the repeal of public laws were long overdue. Earlier many women were beaten, arrested and deprived of their rights o freedom of expression and association under this discriminatory law.

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This lift of ban against women’s freedom in Sudan took places over a period of time. It was encouraged by a combination of pro-democracy activities and military generals. The authoritarian rule of Omar al-Bashir took a dip after the huge cuts made to fuel and bread subsidies in 2018. It impacted the quality of life of the people. Women took an active part in the protests as they were most impacted by his tyranny. Sudanese woman, Alaa Salah also popularly known as “Nubian Queen” went viral on social media after she was pictured standing on top of the car and protesting loudly. And finally, in April 2019, Bashir was ousted from his position.

Picture Credits: enca.com

Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok even tweeted that the law, “This law is notorious for being used as a tool of exploitation, humiliation & violation of rights.” He further tweeted “I pay tribute to the women and youth of my country who have endured the atrocities that resulted from the implementation of this law.” The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) and The Redress Trust, even put out a report in 2017, examining the criminalization of women in Sudan. The report analyzed that the public order laws in Sudan against women was designed not only to ban them from wearing trousers and drinking but to exclude them from having any sort of public life. So there was an atmosphere of fear, self-censorship and, the apprehension that gave the government freedom to arrest or punish women for a crime which they don’t even know what and why they have committed. Also, check out The List Of Most Dangerous Countries To Travel To In 2020 Is Out!

What’s More About The Public Order Laws?

Women were arrested for talking to man without taking permission from her family, pursuing a job which wasn’t approved by her family apart from wearing trousers or even drinking. According to human rights activist Hala al-Karib, public order laws gave police the right to “literally hunt down women” disproportionately, especially women who were not well to do, belonging to conflict zones outside the capital Khartoum. The public order laws also prohibited women’s access to health care and education. Aisha Musa, one of the women of Sudan’s new Sovereign Council forming the transitional government, stated to a reputed news agency that it’s about time that all these corruption stops and ill-treatment of women stop.

Picture Credits: middleeasteve.net

But now that the public orders against the rightful freedom of women from wearing trousers and drinking have been lifted, Sudanese women hope that the transitional government will take progressive steps towards the betterment of women. Amnesty International’s Magango hopes the same. She stated that the transitional government must ensure the entire oppressive public order regime is abolished, especially ones that dictate what a woman should wear. Public order police and courts need to be disbanded and flogging as a means for punishment must be abolished. Yosra Fuad, a women’s rights activist from Khartoum spoke to a reputed news agency that it indeed is a victorious moment for Sudanese women and they are hoping to see more from the transitional government. Well, we would say that it’s a victorious moment for women all across the world, as Sudanese women can now finally enjoy their freedom.