SUDAN: Authorities investigate whipping of woman on YouTube video

 

A YouTube video showing a Sudanese woman pleading and crying as she was flogged in public by police officers has prompted an inquiry by the country's judicial authorities.

"An investigation was started immediately into the lashing of a woman as seen on a website, and the implementation of sanctions that go against what is outlined in the criminal code," the judiciary said in a statement published in a number of Sudanese state-run newspapers.

The video, which has been circulated around the Internet over the last two days, shows a woman in a long black dress and a headscarf being whipped by two blue-uniformed police officers in what appears to be a government yard; a Sudanese flag stands nearby.

One of the officers is heard saying that the unidentified woman's sentence is "50 ... lashes," while others laugh in front of the camera when they realize that the incident is being filmed.

Sudanese authorities initially downplayed the event. Deputy Police Chief Adel Al Agib told the Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV channel that the timing of the video was intended to coincide with the Human Rights Day on Dec. 10 in order to defame the country.

However, the governor of Khartoum, Abdul Rahman Al Khedr, later told the independent Blue Nile TV channel that the woman was "rightfully punished according to the sharia law, but the violation was in the manner her punishment was carried out."

Khedr said his country won't allow the incident to be politicized. In northern Sudan, where the law is based on Islamic sharia, the punishment for crimes such as adultery, prostitution or running a brothel can include up to 100 lashes.

It is unknown what the woman's crime was, but in the beginning of the video she is asked to either bend down or face two years in jail. The whipping was criticized by the anti-government Sudanese Women's Union, which issued a statement calling the incident a "shame, disgrace and humiliation to all Sudanese women."

About 30 women were arrested Monday while protesting against the incident in front of the Ministry of Justice in the capital of Khartoum.

In 2009, Sudanese reporter and U.N employee Lubna Hussein was arrested and sentenced to 40 lashes for indecent clothing after she wore loose jeans in public. The sentence was condemned by local and international human rights organizations, leading to the commutation of the sentence to a fine of $200.

-- Amro Hassan in Cairo

Video: Sudanese woman lashed in public. Credit: YouTube

Comments

[john1513]

How much intolerance should we tolerate to not be labelled intolerant by the "progressives?"

[kenneth onwuta]

It's their culture , their religion, and it's also Quaranic/constitutional in their country. Nothing one can do about it. If you don't like It, do everything humanly possible; to prevent such mannerism -- been exported to you.

[Winston Churchill]

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.

"The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

"A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.

"No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome."

-Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 [London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899]).

[Judge RB]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The males from this part of the world ARE NOT men. They are cowards and woman beaters.

[Witnes]

Cant wait for that one world government, this is what happens when men are given to much power over people. History proves it over and over. They will treat people less then animals. But don’t fear soon BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen

[Wolfzter]

And their own book says "Those...who restrain anger, and pardon all men: for allah loves those who do good" Qur'an 3:134. How does this apply to what I've seen in this video or are women more like dogs to them?? There is no room for barbaric acts like this in my world!

[Wolfzter]

SHAME ON SHARIA! This kind of 'Religious discipline' is not what any person anywhere needs. Salvation is not by Law of any kind, a little reading the New Testament and you may get the idea. This is a very disturbing thing to see and this could be my mother, sister, wife, neighbour etc. TO HIM WHO SHOWS NO MERCY, TO HIM WILL NO MERCY BE GIVEN!

[Humpty Dumpty]

Ah yes, the peaceful (and tolerant) religion of Islam, and with it, sharia law. Coming soon to a Western nation near you.

[David]

God is looking at all of you; your actings will follow you into the hereafter. Muslims must give in to Jesus Christ if they want to live with Him.

[geo88a]

So sharia law is physical punishment. Huh?
Barbarous outrageous law!
The more I learn about Islam, the least I like!

[LebExile]

what a barbaric society!

[franco yen]

if this is reall, it mean sudan is still in dark surdow. why we do this to our mother's woman like mothers to us. if there is samething she has done wrong this is not the solution of bring a human to understand
we do have low that can make the person grow up like that lady to understand what she did is right or not right there is no pease of mine if the sudan goverment still doing this. if this lady were to be your mother how do you feel for sure?
this is not far from what is going to be.if this is a culture in northern part of sudan beating wamen in the street we need you to keep very far from southside Godbless sudan

[angela weatherington]

i think every one involved should get the same punishment as the woman got.

[johson]

what was he thinkin