LONDON — Chanting, “Women’s rights are human rights,” some 50 women and men and their supporters demonstrated outside the Sudanese Embassy here on International Women’s Day March 8, demanding the Sudanese government amend the country’s family law.
“It means women cannot travel without the consent of their husbands,” explained Amal Elshuk, one of the protest organizers. “They might not get custody of their children if there is a divorce.” Participants carried signs reading, “Stop child marriage, Amend family law.”
“The constitution is based on sharia law,” Abdul Hassaballah, a law student from Bolton, in Greater Manchester, told the Militant. “And the new government makes too many compromises with the people from the old regime.” He was referring to the transitional government that replaced the tyrannical rule of President Omar al-Bashir last year, after months of protests by working people over living conditions under the impact of years of war.
“I salute women in Sudan who were at the forefront of the struggle to topple Bashir,” Catharina Tirsén, with mic, told participants. She is a supporter of the campaign of Jonathan Silberman, Communist League candidate for London mayor. “As long as women are treated as second-class citizens, we will not achieve the unity needed to advance our struggles.”