Sudanese Public Order judge charges, fines accused Christian woman

The judge of the Public Order Court in Khartoum North today sentenced one of the Christian young women accused of wearing “indecent dress” to a fine of SDG500 ($83).

The woman belonged to a group of 12 who were detained by the Public Order Police in the evening of 25 June, when they were leaving the Baptist church in El Izba, Khartoum North, after a festivity. They were released on Friday, after ten of them had been charged with “deeds against the public morality” under Article 152 of the 1990 Penal Code. 

The judge said that he decided on the fine because he deemed the outfit one of the accused was wearing during the court session indecent as well.

Head of the defence team, Muhanad Mustafa, described the sentence to Radio Dabanga as “ridiculous and invalid”, and said that they would certainly file an appeal request.

The defence lawyers will lodge a complaint to the head of the Sudanese Judiciary against the Public Order Court judge who, he said, violated the litigation procedures by adding a charge himself this (Monday) morning, and immediately deciding on the punishment.

The judge today heard the testimonies of three witnesses for the defence, and scheduled the date for the next session on 13 June.