UN Woman: 'Flogging Is Men Behaving Badly'

Kathleen Parker apologizes to the 'Muslim World'

(NEWSER) - Kathleen Parker pens a letter to the “Muslim World” in the Washington Post , calling herself “an American citizen who is deeply embarrassed by current events in my country.” When it comes to “so-called pastor” Terry Jones , “please ignore” him. “What we hope you understand is that most Americans were appalled by Jones's proposal, too,” she writes, and then apologizes, “as a member of the news media,” for handing Jones “a megaphone.” More»

(NEWSER) - Supporters of a woman facing 40 lashes for wearing trousers were beaten and teargassed by police in Sudan yesterday, the Guardian reports. Some her female supporters wore pants in solidarity with Lubna Hussein, in defiance of the country's law against "indecent dressing." "We are here to protest against this law that oppresses women and debases them," said one woman outside Hussein's court hearing. More»

(NEWSER) - A local woman working for the United Nations in Sudan has been charged with wearing “clothing causing harassment to the public sentiments” and could be flogged 40 times tomorrow for the crime, the Washington Post reports. Lubna Ahmed Hussein and 12 other women were rounded up earlier this month at a Khartoum café for wearing pants. “Maybe I'll be punished,” she says calmly. “The judge will decide. I'm not afraid.” More»

(NEWSER) - A criminal court in the Maldives has ruled that 150 women will be flogged for having affairs in the Muslim country, reports the Independent. Some 50 men face the same punishment. Earlier this month an 18-year-old woman fainted after being flogged 100 times for having sex with two men, who were both acquitted. The woman was pregnant when she was convicted of her crime, but punishment was delayed until after the birth of her child. More»

US provider says flick may violate policy; filmmaker unfazed

(NEWSER) - Amid public outrage, a right-wing Dutch lawmaker has run into a new problem in his relentless quest to market his anti-Koran film: His US-based network provider has suspended service, AP reports. Network Solutions pulled the plug on Geert Wilders, who insists his 15-minute film will expose Islam's holy book as "fascist," saying the site may violate its terms of service. More»