Sudan is still living in era of Arabs before Islam!

By Roba Gibia

August 9, 2009 – The current unfolding events of flogging women in Khartoum reminds me when I was in primary four, we were taught Arab history prior to the coming of Islam, and it was one of the outrageous histories with lots of prehistoric and inhumane acts. We were taught that before Islam, Arabs were killing their female children except male ones and the girls were not allowed to go to school which pinpoints that Arabs before Islam were living in one of the darkest times ever. Thus, after coming of Islam Arabs stopped killing of girls, and they know that God created them both male and female on equal foot and for the conservation of human being race. But now Sudan is still mistreating and killing Sudanese women ethically which is one of the worst assassinations in twenty-first century. Does this imply that Sudan is still living in darkest ages as Arabs before Islam! Or because women in Sudan are not seen as human beings but rather are looked at merely as an object for men’s sexual satisfaction, and I wonder as whether this is the significance and role of women in some Arab and Islamic countries?

The issue of whipping women in Khartoum with pretext of wearing indecent clothing is not bizarre, because the South Sudanese Christian women in Khartoum have been suffering in absolute dignity, silence and enduring this inhumane behavior for more than two decade, and were forced to cover their heads like Muslim women, and yet no one talked about it. Even after signing peace agreement in 2005 the non-Muslims continue to suffer immensely under the Sharia law, and there was no fair trial as stipulated in interim constitution of Sudan for protection of non-Muslims rights in Khartoum as indicated in article 157, so that they shall not adversely affected by application of Sharia law in the national capital. But unfortunately, the poor South Sudanese Christian girls received ten lashes and fine according to the Sharia law, simply because they are marginalized girls from south Sudan and there is not single person to back and highlight their case. Unlike journalist Lubna, and had she were to come from south, Public Order Police and security apparatus might have dealt with her harshly and received ten lashes in absolute stillness. If we can recall the high SPLA officer was manhandled and physically abused and tortured just like these poor south Sudanese girls! Thus, the question that has to be asked, who is going to protect the rights of marginalized people in the national capital Khartoum, while both ruling parties (SPLM and NCP) continue to advocate unity of Sudan. Was this is the kind of rule of law and order that we need to exist in united Sudanese national capital? Place yourself in the shoes of those young ladies who were terrorized, humiliated and forced to urinate on themselves, their crime is simply because they were wearing trousers but not murder or trying to overthrow government, is this human or inhumane!

The core issue here in my view is not matter of women wearing indecently but the behavior and character of women matters, your wife, daughter and sister can wear decently but if her behavior doesn’t comply with the decent cloth, then you are trying to encourage your women to be hypocrites. We think that our conservative society is the best in faith, behavior and decency, but bear in mind that everything that is not wanted by society, people like it and yet we continue to cover our heads deep into sand from the reality. At this twenty-first century and in era of internet and even in conservative societies, you will never impose and dictate as what women should do and be like. Enlighten your women and grant them self-esteem freedom and do not ever tight and bar knowledge from them, do not dictate what they shall wear and how they can behave, but above all grant them dignity and respect as human beings, at this juncture, they shall behave themselves and abide with the family norms and culture and art of clothing. And this reminds me with a famous saying that from outside it looks great but inside God knows. Therefore, let us abide with family norms without imposition, radicalism and exploitation of the whole situation, because our planet has become like a small village under the current era of technology, and the days of enslaving and visualizing women just for sexual purposes is elapsing and Khartoum has to picture women first as human beings but not as sexual dummy.

Therefore, at this juncture, it is worth noting that even in indigenous and primitive societies who are still walking nude today, do visualize women as human beings but not as sexual puppets. Their women are walking naked in front of them but yet as human beings, they do control their sexual desire and abide with family norms. Hence, then why not those who claim to be civilized society, educated and God fearing people! Are we being driven by our natural sexual innate, if yes, then we are just behaving like animals? Thus, since signing peace agreement four years ago, the NCP has been unilaterally ruling and dictating its will on the entire Sudanese people with ironic hand. It doesn’t even want to hear the voice of its partner (SPLM) in any country’s affairs, unless it is in line with its doctrine or otherwise that SPLM member has to be liquidated. And that was evident, about the current Public Order Police move to strip SPLM Deputy Secretary General Yasir Arman of his parliamentary immunity pending for his trial. In my view, Yasir Arman did not commit any kind of crime but the move came as a result of his candid articulation of the truth. This is ludicrous move and its primary goal is to pin down all genuine voices, but do not make any mistake, NCP is terrorizing and displaying its muscles which signals and says that do not live in delusion of partnership and power sharing, we are still at the peak of power and whoever doesn’t understand that, we will deal with accordingly regardless whether being SPLM or legislative member.

The author is a Sudan Tribune journalist. He can be reached at [email protected]