Women arrested for wearing tight trousers

Why? Because it's sinful? Woman shaming? Power mad men who need to control women? Report from Middle East Online:

JUBA, Sudan - A southern Sudan cabinet minister said on Tuesday that more than 20 women were arrested and beaten for allegedly dressing inappropriately under a new edict against "bad behaviour".

Ah, it all becomes clear. It's bad behaviour. That explains... nothing.

"Between 20 and 30 girls were picked up from different points, hurled into police lorries, arrested and taken to the police station and some of them were beaten," said Mary Kiden Kimbo, the gender, social welfare and religious affairs minister in the semi-autonomous southern government.

"This is absolutely not acceptable: it is not the job of police to judge what is and what is not a correct way to dress in such a manner of blanket punishment," she said.

The police crackdown on young women wearing trousers or short skirts follows an order from the commissioner of Juba county, the capital of southern Sudan.

Violence against girls and women is gender based violence and completely unacceptable and in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a dozen international treaties.

Most of the women, said to be in their late teens and 20s, were rounded up as they left Catholic mass in Juba on Sunday, Kimbo said.

Others were picked up in market places.

The order bans "all bad behaviours, activities and imported illicit cultures," according to a copy signed by Juba's commissioner, Albert Pitia Redantore.

Inappropriate behaviour may include wearing tight trousers, short skirts or skimpy tops considered "Western" attire.

The order, dated October 2, said it aimed to "preserve the cultural values, dignity and achievements of the people of southern Sudan, checking out the intrusion of foreign cultures into our societies, for the sake of bringing up (a) good generation."

Because shaming and beating women for wearing trousers is bringing up a good generation? Hardly. All that teaches, is that boy and men can use their strength to dominate girls and women. What about equality? And advocating non-violent means of communication? This was a show of force, to put women in "their" place.

Those deemed in contravention are liable to three months imprisonment. Those convicted for a second time face another three-month sentence and a fine of 600 Sudanese pounds (300 dollars).

Prison for wearing trousers? Shameful and disgusting.

Traditional values are important in largely Christian and animist southern Sudan.

Yeah. It's not only extremist Muslims that treat women appallingly. Extremist Christians have to be held accountable also. Violence against women should never be touted as a traditional value.

Reuters has their account under their Oddly Enough section. Oddly Enough violence against women is often put in this section. Liss at Shakesville has done a series documenting this. It is not odd news. It is the persistent downgrading of violence against women.

The deputy police commissioner of Juba County, Raiman Lege, said they were disturbing the peace by wearing trousers that were too tight. The group was freed Monday without charge after appearing in court.

Disturbing the peace? How is that then? What's disturbing about women wearing trousers? Despicable. Once again women are blamed for men's reaction to them. Have a read of this great piece by Ross at the Talent Show if you believe that women hold any responsibility for how women dress. Go on enlighten yourselves.

The Beeb has more:

Gender Minister Mary Kinden Kimbo said police had exceeded their authority and violated the women's human rights.

Yes.

All the women have since been freed and the government of the semi-autonomous region has launched an investigation.

Khartoum's imposition of Islamic Sharia law across the whole nation was one of the reasons why southerners took up arms.

However, the police interpreted [the order] as applying to what they deemed unsuitable clothing for women.

Cos men never behave badly

Ms Kimbo stressed that South Sudan was committed to protecting the rights of its people and that such behaviour would not be tolerated.

Good.

Earlier this year, women in southern Sudanese town of Yei were allegedly forced to strip in public by police officers and pay an unofficial fine for wearing tight trousers.

In yet another violent public humiliation against women.