European Parliament calls to drop charges against Sudanese girls
July 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The European Union Parliament called on the Sudanese authorities to drop charges against Christian girls arrested by the Public Order Police (POP) for “indecent dress” and face flogging.
The EU parliament “Condemns the arrest of the 12 Christian girls; calls on the Government of Sudan to cease proceedings against the 10 girls who have yet to be cleared of wrongdoing,” says a resolution adopted on 9 July.
The European legislators further called on the Sudanese government to “all legislation that discriminates on the grounds of religion and to protect the identity of minority groups, including those of all faiths”.
The resolution further called for the release of two South Sudanese pastors of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church arrested one 11 January 2015. The religious who were arrested after preaching at the Khartoum North Church are accused of espionage and undermining the constitutional system.
Amnesty International on Friday 10 July issued an “Urgent Action” requesting activists to call on the Sudanese government to drop the charges against the 10 female Christian students immediately and unconditionally.
The human right group said the arrested Christian students are between 17 and 23 years old. Some of females who hail from the war-torn Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan state were wearing trousers and others skirts.
The police released two students four hours after the arrest but the 10 others were released on bail on 27 June.
” One student, Fardos Al Toum, 19, appeared in court on 6 July, wearing another dress deemed indecent by the judge who, disregarding any due process, immediately sentenced her to a fine of 500 Sudanese pounds ($83) or a month in prison,” Amnesty said.
Activists paid the fine but she will appear in court again in relation to the original charge. Another student, 17 years, appeared in court on 7 July, but because of her age, was transferred to a Juvenile Court.
(ST)