Fashion shows and police arrests
All fashion shows end in applause, but some of them bring something more to the public attention than new collections. Sudan fashion show that took place last week ended for example with arrests. The first mixed gender show that ever took place in this city, has found something uncommon to stand out with: 25 people were arrested after the presentation and many of them where also held in the next day. Between those that the police took in, were also models, both men and female. The arrests happened in a famous club in Sudan.
No explications were given by the police regarding the arrests, but the next day the ones that got out of prison declared that they were charged with “indecency” and they will probably go before a prosecution. Actually, many of the models that were arrested declared that they were dresses decently, and regarding this aspect there are no reasons for their arrests. One of the male models told also to the media that he was insulted by the prison guardians.
The only explication that the modes could found for their arrests is that authorities in Sudan are not used to such shows and they really are something new here, so this is why, no one knows what to expect. However, the police reasons were more specific. Some the people arrested were retained because they had over dinked too much alcohol, because they did not have a permit to organize a party or because they partied after a certain hour, 11 o’clock in this case, which is considered to be too much in Sudan, a state that has some sever rules based on Sharia, the Islamic law. After all, in Sudan alcohol consumption is illegal and absolutely forbidden. Because, Sharia, Sudan’s Islamic law forbade alcohol, and many people are arrested with the charge of breaking this rule.
In Sudan, it is also a law that says that a maximum of 40 lashes for wearing clothing deemed to be indecent. So, based on these facts, the arrests have been made on the law rules, although it was a fashion show. However, the show itself was what we can call a success for Sudan fashion industry and models presented traditional and classical wears, Western outfits and also wedding dresses.11
