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Sudan Overturns Controversial Clothing, Drinking Law

Michael Atit

   KHARTOUM - Sudan's transitional government has overturned a moral
   policing law that criminalized certain clothing for women and drinking
   alcohol.

   It also has dissolved the country's former ruling party, carrying out
   two key demands of Sudan's pro-democracy protesters.

   Sudan's Justice Minister Nassraddeen Abdulbari says the votes Friday to
   abolish the Public Order Act and disband the National Congress Party
   are a "big achievement'' for Sudan's revolution.

   Abdulbari says many Sudanese families have been subjected to beatings,
   harassment, and even imprisonment under the Public Order Act.

   "It abolishes the Public Order Act, which we are all aware has
   oppressed many families in Sudan, and especially the vulnerable groups.
   Some of them have experiences that are horrible to hear during the
   implementation period," Abdulbari told VOA South Sudan in Focus.

   Eleven members of Sudan's new executive body, known as the Sovereign
   Council, and 23 members of the cabinet voted to suspend the National
   Congress Party and to freeze all of their assets.

   "This law is meant to fragment the National Congress Party
   specifically, which will allow the government to confiscate and
   apprehend all financial assets and property which have been owned by
   the party, and divert them to the account of the Ministry of Finance,"
   Abulbari told VOA.

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