On being a Western harlot in other countries

There was worldwide shock and outrage earlier this month at the news that a Norwegian woman who was allegedly raped in Dubai had been sentenced to prison for extramarital sex, consuming alcohol without a licence and perjury. Marte Dalev was charged with extramarital sex because under UAE law, she was not raped. Rape is not easy to prove in any legal jurisdiction. Under Sharia law however, a rape only occurs if it is witnessed by four adult Muslim men or if the rapist confesses. This makes it almost impossible to prove a rape occurred.

Dalev's story is unfortunately not an isolated case. Australian Alicia Gali spent eight months in prison in 2008, after reporting being raped at the hotel where she worked. Her case was not widely publicised by her family, apparently due to advice from the Australian government. Dalev's case was barely reported in Gulf media outlets and when it was, it was mostly to express outrage at the evil Western media who were besmirching Dubai's good name. It was pointed out that Dalev was drinking and so was partly to blame if she was raped. The idea that a rape victim is to blame if she has been drinking is still prevalent here in Europe too, lest we forget.

Dubai, UAE

I'm moving to Oman next month, which has a similar, sharia-influence code of law to the UAE. I've seen calls to boycott Dubai as a holiday destination on Twitter and have been reading countless articles on this terrible case (Dalev's case was since suspended, thankfully). It's made me think a lot about travelling to countries which have laws I not only disagree with but actually abhor; laws which offer me little protection as a woman- especially a Western woman who likes a drink.

Some of my friends and family have questioned why I would want to live in a country such as Oman, especially as I am such a proponent of women's equality. I obviously don't see living there as condoning women's second class status but I am extremely interested in living in a completely different culture for a year and learning Arabic. In Uganda, I was lucky enough to meet some amazing Sudanese women. I hope to travel to Sudan sometime in the next two years. This is not because of their government's fantastic human rights policies or their heavily corrupted Public Order Laws but because I find Sudanese culture interesting and beautiful and Sudanese people friendly and warm. No one travels to a country because of governmental policy, you travel to see and experience new and different things. The things you see are not always good.

At the Gadaffi Mosque, Kampala in 2011. 

Dalev committed no crime. Her only mistake was to go to the Dubai police. As a resident of Abu Dhabi, it's surprising she was not aware of the UAE's draconian laws regarding rape. However, it is completely understandable that probably shocked and traumatised she automatically did what we European women are always taught to do if we are attacked; report it to the police.

Many young European women I've met who have travelled in Africa or the Middle East are unaware of the current political and legal situation of the countries they're visiting. In Uganda in late 2011, as Somali militants upped their terrorist activities in neighbouring Kenya, many people in Kampala became nervous they would soon strike Uganda. Discussing the situation in a typical expat bar,  I remember being shocked at a Dutch girl who scoffed at such an idea. She was completely unaware, having failed to adequately Google the country she was moving to, that just the previous summer, two suicide bombers had killed over 70 people in downtown Kampala.

Being aware of the laws in UAE would obviously not have protected Dalev against rape. However, knowing how rape is treated by the legal system there would have saved her some of the extra trauma she was forced to go through. As we all know, it doesn't matter where in the world you are as a woman or how careful you are- whether you're in jeans and a headscarf or a miniskirt, drunk or sober- rape happens. Stories like Dalev's does not stop me travelling to the countries I wish to visit but it certainly does remind me to know as much as possible about the country I am travelling to.

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What's been going on. . . .

. . . in the world

Well, an awful lot obviously, but here are the stories I've been following closely.

Ireland

It's been all fun, games and abortion debate here in the Emerald Isle. Two weeks ago, the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament) held a hearing on the proposed abortion legislation which will clarify the existing legislation surrounding medical terminations in cases when the life of the mother is at risk.

I cannot stress this point enough: Abortion will only be legalised in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. It will remain illegal in cases of rape, incest or when a pesky woman decides she has autonomy over her own health care. 

The majority of debate in Ireland at the minute is surrounding the issue of suicide. The Supreme Court ruled that abortion be permitted in cases of where the risk to the mother's life is suicide. Many people don't like this. Many people however (yours truly included) are not really qualified in such matters however and it was good to hear the opinions of those who are. 

The Journal.ie had great live blogging of the hearings and this piece "13 things we learned from Oireachtas abortion hearings this week," is well worth a read.

Kenya

Elections in Kenya are set for March 4th. Although a new constitution, election commission and a reformed judiciary have been introduced since the outbreak of political violence that marred the country in 2007-2008, sporadic outbreaks of minor political violence have fuelled fears of the potential for wider conflict. The International Crisis Group have warned the potential for local violence is especially high, due to candidates campaigning along ethnic lines and exacerbating tensions within and between communities. The ongoing ICC case against four individuals relating to the 2007 election, has raised the stakes for this years election even higher. 

allAfrica.com has a good commentary on the upcoming election, heavily based on a report by the ICG, here.

Sudan

The wonderfully effective police state in Sudan continues its crackdown on independent civil society. Human Rights Watch detailed the crackdown here.

In good news however, South Kordofan activist Jalila Khamis was yesterday released after being imprisoned for ten months on trumped up charges. Although charged with treason, which carries a death sentence, she was found guilty of lesser charges and the judge ruled her time served. This piece from back in October is a good summary of the ridiculous charges brought against Jalila and of the terrible price often paid by civil society activists in Sudan.

Europe

It snowed, as it does every year, and everyone lost their shit, as they do every year (London, I'm looking at you). To be fair, particularly heavy snow which grounds flights, closes schools and businesses etc. is a nightmare. But it does make for some awfully pretty pictures 

. . . in my world

It's January so, inevitably, I'm detoxing- in my own, special half-assed way; caffeine is still in, most carbs are gone. Foregoing my beloved spaghetti and meatballs has made me quite cranky (crankier I hear you yell; yeah alright, well done), plus my GHD broke so I'm full of curly headed rage at the minute. It's a terribly attractive sight.

In case you missed it, just before Christmas I wrote a piece for A Safe World for Women on the frequency of suspended sentences for sexual and domestic violence convictions in Ireland. You can read it here.

Last week I had the pleasure of hearing Mary Robinson speak at NUI Galway, which I blogged about here.

Resolutions and all that? Read more, blog more, exercise more. For Christmas I got these two books, both of which I loved.

 


And I'm currently alternating between this. . .

 


. . .and this

 

It's good to have varied interests after all.

Also, like any good political junkie, my Borgen obsession has been reignited by BBC4. I have a girl crush on Brigitte and an actual crush on Kasper. See below.





It's my birthday in a couple of weeks. Last year, I celebrated by spending a few days in Marseilles and Aix-En-Province with two of my best friends. We drank a lot of wine, walked miles from bakery to bakery to try as many different macaroons as possible and generally had a fantastic time!

This year will probably involve slightly less macaroons but just as much wine I'm sure.

New pieces coming up on human rights vs development, renewed violence in Northern Ireland and the ICC's involvement in the DRC; don't miss out:)

Being a female activist in Sudan

I've written before about the esteem I have for female activists in Sudan; the conditions and pressure they work under are truly horrific. They operate in a total police state. The laws in their country are a corrupted version of Shar'ia law, designed to exert social control and keep women hidden at home. They can be picked up at any time by security agents who may torture and rape them with impunity.

It's no small decision to continue with your activism under such conditions. I spoke to two young Sudanese women who have been involved in human rights activism to find out what drives them and how their difficult work has impacted their lives. 

Maha El-Sanosi 

 

" I was born in the heart of Khartoum and raised in Abu Dhabi, where I attended high school.  Upon graduating, I decided to attend university in Sudan and explore the cultures, customs and traditions of my country. Visiting every summer was not enough for me; I wanted to learn everything there is to know about Sudan. I did my undergraduate studies in Biomedical Engineering at a university in Khartoum.

 

I love my family more than anything in this world. My friends come second. I enjoy reading, sometimes more than I do writing. My biggest fear is to die without having accomplished much in life. I love to travel the world and try different things, eat different food. I am both claustrophobic and achluophobic."

Yosra Akasha 

 

"Originally I’m Nubian, but I  was raised in Khartoum, Medani, Sinnar and visited most of the cities and villages from Khartoum to Damazin, Gedarif & Kassala. I used to be a pharmacist before deciding to dedicate my time and efforts to defending human rights.

I'm not a loud person, I hate noise. I like walking, dancing, listening to music, reading books, playing with my nieces and nephews. I love fashion- dresses, shoes and make-up, although I hate putting on make-up every day. I love my boyfriend."

What led you to become politically aware?

 

Maha:  When I first moved to Sudan in 2003 I began educating myself about the political situation in my country. I've always had a passion for writing and in 2006 I started a blog. There was no Twitter or Facebook at the time, and I used my blog to voice my opinions on all matters pertaining to Sudan. It was and still is my outlet.

Yosra: In the 1990s, my brothers went to Jihad against the Christian Southerners. As I grew up, I knew that wasn't right. Innocent people were killed in those wars. Soldiers fought battles for no reason and still our lives are affected by lying politicians. When I was in my first year of college, protests against the genocide in Darfur were happening in major cities around the world while in Khartoum, only the Darfur Student Association were campaigning against it. I felt like something needed to be done in this country, which despite suffering Africa's longest running civil war, has no real anti-war campaign. 

Maha, you're a biomedical engineer but also a blogger and freelance writer; Was it always your intention to write or did it come about due to circumstance?

 

I remember owning a journal ever since I was a little kid. I still have some of them; I sometimes go back and read them just to have a little laugh. There were times when losing my walkman was the biggest problem in my life. When I discovered blogging it was my chance  to take my writing to the next level. I blogged anonymously and was grateful for the feedback I received. After I graduated from university and earned my engineering degree, I took up a job in my field but never stopped blogging. My best friend, journalist Reem Shawkat, encouraged me to become a freelance writer. I did; and I owe it all to her.

Yosra, when did you start blogging? Why?

 

I started blogging in August 2011, soon after my boy friend get back from Egypt. He told me about the success stories of Egyptian bloggers and how they influenced change in their country. He showed me a book about the use of blogs and social media. I had a lot of thoughts I wished to share with others and opinions I need to discuss especially I don't belong to any political party and I don’t have any place that my voice would be heard by others who had similar thoughts.

What is daily life for a woman in Khartoum like?

 

Yosra: Hard & unexpected for most women. You can be caught, humiliated and harassed without knowing exactly what kinds of charges you are facing. You have to follow certain dress codes and control your movements “even for work and study” in order not to be arrested or take the risk of challenging the regime. Tea ladies, street vendors and activist women are taking this risk on a daily basis.

Tell us about Sudan Revolts, from your perspective. 

Maha: The protests, triggered by the government's crippling austerity measures, were sparked by strong Sudanese women - namely the female students and dorm residents of the University of Khartoum. The bravery of Sudanese women is marked all over our history; they were at the forefront of the 1964 and 1985 revolution and have played a big role in shaping the political landscape of the country. However, austerity was not the one and only reason for the protests; but decades of injustice, war and corruption were the main driving force behind Sudan Revolts.

Yosra: It was an inspiring experience that indicated this regime will not last long. Sudan revolts didn't succeed in changing NCP regime but it proved that the change is coming. It was an outbreak of spontaneous protests which came from the people and showed us, “the activists”, what needs to be done/ organised to have a more powerful and successful wave of Sudan Revolts 2.

 

What was the personal impact of Sudan Revolts for you?

 

Maha: I have learned, lost and gained a lot. My life was turned around. My eyes opened to a lot of things I was blind to in the near past. Most notably I have transformed into a new person. This experience has matured me to a great extent.

Yosra: Motivating in terms of mobilising the efforts against NCP; heartbreaking for the Nyala victims and sad because of the pressure when a lot of friends were detained while I’m moving freely and helpless.

  

Is there a credible political opposition in Sudan, if Bashir were to be removed from power?

 

Maha: Current opposition may step up and claim power, yes. But very few of them have shown any significant support of the protests. When Bashir is removed from power, our only hope is the youth. Youth movements must transform into credible parties. The people trust them more than they do existing oppositions.

Yosra: In terms of political institutions, no. But Bashir himself is not credible to lead Sudan. At least there will be a space for the political institutions to grow up, and we have really good people who can build the Sudanese state

 

What next for you and for Sudan?  

Yosra:  I'll continue what I'm doing until I decide to have children; I'll step away for a while to raise them. For Sudan, getting rid of NCP and the parasitic, sectarian political parties. We need to build a new Sudanese state, after changing the NCP regime, or we will repeat the same mistakes of the 1964 and 1985 revolutions.

Maha: Freedom  

Want to know more? Maha blogs at http://mimzology.blogspot.com and is on Twitter @MimzicalMimz. Yosra blogs at http://kandakegranddaughter.blogspot.com and is on Twitter @Sudanesedream.

For general news on Sudan, try Sudan Tribune. To learn more about women human rights defenders in Sudan or to support their work, check out SIHA Network.