CAIRO: It has become a pants controversy in the Islamic world, after Sudan sentenced a female journalist to six months in prison for wearing trousers. Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein, a journalist, refused to pay a fine for her release in protest, but the country's journalist syndicate intervened, much to her anger. Egypt's Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa has chimed into the debate, saying that women have the right to wear pants. He cited a hadith – saying of the Prophet Mohamed – that proves the right of women to wear these clothes. He added that “if this Hadith wasn't proven correct, Islamic Sharia laws didn't forbid women from wearing pants, as there are outfits worn by Pakistani women where it includes pants.” It was not the first time Sudanese women have been under attack for what they wear. In July, at least 13 Sudanese women received public lashes for wearing tight clothes, which sparked widespread outrage among activists in Sudan and abroad. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) in Cairo said that the Sudanese authorities are “continuing further to persecute reporters and oppress all voices defending freedom of expression.†ANHRI has called on the Sudanese government to abolish or change the public discipline law, one of the most oppressive and discriminating laws against women as it violates basic individual freedoms. Gomaa stressed that allowing women to wear pants does not mean that Muslim women “should wear tight ones, because tight pants must not be worn by women,” adding that Islam stands up for women. “We, as Muslim scholars, apply Islamic laws.” In his statements, Gomaa also permitted women to take the position of the Secretariat of institute for issuing Fatwas (Islamic opinions), saying “I do not say so to appear as if I am open-minded and defending women's rights, but because Islam permits this and if a woman reached the level of science that is required by any post, such as issuing opinions, then there is no reason, according to Sharia, that would prohibit women from taking such posts.” He noted that throughout Islamic history, society has witnessed about 600 women taking over top positions in various fields. **reporting by Mohamed Abdel Salam BM
