malawi president: women should be free to wear what they want

[niyad]

Malawi President: Women Should Be Free to Wear What They Want

by Miranda Perry


In Malawi, violent conservatives have recently been attacking women and stripping them on the streets. The victims have been singled out for wearing “nontraditional dress” – in this case, pants.

Last week, President Bingu wa Mutharika condemned the attacks in a national radio broadcast. “I will not allow anyone to … go on the streets and start undressing women and girls wearing trousers, because that is illegal,” he said, according to the BBC.

“You are free to wear what you want,” the President added. “Women who want to wear trousers should do so, as you will be protected from thugs, vendors and terrorists.”

Malawian Police reportedly arrested several street vendors believed responsible for the attacks, which have occurred in the cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre. Activists and women’s rights groups have planned protests and other events across the southern African nation.
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Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/malawi-president-women-should-be-free-to-wear-what-they-want.html#ixzz1kU9AB2A3

[libodem]

1. This world is crazy

In this day and age, I can't believe what controlling barbarians, religious zealot, men can be.

Especially if it falls under the guise of "protection".

[niyad]

2. who would have thought things would sound more like the 13th than the 21st century

[libodem]

3. I know

It kills me inside that women still have it so bad. Some time ago I read a story about north Africa, where zealot vigilante men had tied a woman up and beat her bare legs for wearing pants. Her fellow females were so sad and broken pleading not to strip off clothing to protect the privacy of women.

[niyad]

4. that is heartbreaking--I remember hearing that. and nobody stopped them. an accepted behavior

apparently

[libodem]

5. How can life be so backward

When it comes to culture and religion? So much of it seems to be to supress women's right to function as a human being. Not so long ago the Catholic Church was still debating whether women even had souls.

[niyad]

6. what is surprising is that these bizarre beliefs seem to be gaining in credence, just at a time when

one thinks they would be going the way of the dinosaurs.

[libodem]

7. Seems like it is on the up tick

When it should be long forgotten as a defunct old fashioned ideology. Who would have thought that our protests of the 70's and 80's would be the high point and then decline from there.

Seems like fundamental religions are doubling down all over the planet. The worst Christians are as bad as Sharia law lovers when it comes to women remaining slaves to oppression.

[niyad]

8. living in fundieville, I get a lot of grief for pointing out that, philosophically and practically,

there is no real difference between the taliban and the fundamentalist, dominionist xians in this country.

[Lunacee2012]

9. At the very least the Malawi President is a man who gets it.

He even called the attackers "terrorists"!

[niyad]

10. would that there were more like him