40 Lashes for Trousers

Photo Courtesy of AP/GETTY

The trial of journalist Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein began today in Sudan. She's been charged with, get this, wearing trousers that were too tight and a blouse that was too sheer. She faces up to 40 lashes if convicted. Here's the deal - she WANTED to go to court in an effort to clear her name as well as have the law deemed unconstitutional and protesting the "moral police" who stormed the private restaurant she and 18 other women were arrested at. Al-Hussein resigned from her media post at the United Nations (as the UN grants immunity to international workers) so that she could take the case as a public protest to the treatment of women in the Sudan. She has even gone as far as to send out 500 invitations to witness her flogging if she is convicted.

The case is getting a lot of attention, Amnesty International is involved and UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon has been quoted as being "concerned" about the case.

In an effort to support Ms. Al-Hussein, wear your pants with pride, take a moment to think about the ladies in the Sudan and let your people know what's going on.

For more information about this case visit: CNN and Amnesty International