A Sudanese journalist convicted of indecency for wearing trousers is spending the night in prison after refusing to pay a fine.

Lubna Hussein had faced the possibility of being lashed – the fate suffered by other similarly-clad women arrested with her in July. Instead, a court in Khartoum ordered her to pay the equivalent of around 150 euros – or spend a month in jail. After the closed-door hearing, defence lawyer Mona M. Ali said the court refused to listen to Lubna Hussein or let her defend herself. Women gathered outside to support the former UN worker. But scuffles broke out when they were branded prostitutes by Islamists chanting religious slogans. Riot police moved in, beating some protesters with batons and detaining dozens of women. Lubna Hussein says she quit her UN post to give up any legal immunity so as to continue with a case that has attracted worldwide attention.More about: Religion, Women’s rights

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