Outrage at new video of woman publicly flogged in Sudan

A new video has been posted on YouTube showing a Sudanese police officer publically flogging an unidentified woman in public, marking the second recording of its kind the last two years. The video has prompted a chorus of condemnation from viewers from around the world, as did a similar YouTube video in December 2010, which drew widespread condemnation as the woman was seen screaming and begging for mercy while police officers laughed as they carried out her sentence. At the time, Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir dismissed the criticism saying that the “woman’s punishment was legal under (Islamic) Shar’ia law and she deserves it”. The new video, which runs for a little under a minute, shows a woman groaning in pain as police officers whipped her while they made sarcastic remarks. It is not clear what crime she was sentenced for. The governor of Khartoum Abdul Rahman Al Khidir, told Blue Nile TV channel that the woman was “rightfully punished according to the Shar’ia law, but the violation was in the manner her punishment was carried out”. Liberal activists say that the Islamic government in Sudan is deliberately harassing and abusing girls who hold opposing political views. Graphic images: sensitive viewers should exercise caution.Watch the latest video (YouTube) Watch the previous video from 9 December 2010 (YouTube)