The Khartoum police chief created controversy last week by demanding the return of public order laws. Very controversial texts created during the old Islamic regime and which contained many restrictions that are often used against women.
These remarks sparked an uprising that ultimately cost him his job as the first police officer in the Sudanese capital.
After his controversial comments, Lieutenant General Issa Adam Ismaël was transferred to the Interior Ministry office. A new police chief in Khartoum was appointed on Sunday.
Last week, the dismissed official demanded that the laws of public order be returned, repealed in November 2019. For him, it was about fighting crime, but also to stop what he called “negative methods” and mentioned examples women have dressed since the fall of the dictatorship. The lieutenant general also recalled the importance of preserving traditions and protecting families.
These statements had led to a scream, especially on social networks. These laws contained a whole series of restrictions inspired by Sharia law and its application was aimed primarily at women who were arrested, imprisoned or even whipped.
Amira Osman, from the organization No to the oppression of women, explained that this conversation showed that the old regime still existed within the institutions and that there was a need for a campaign to remove associated police to dictatorship.
In the face of the scandal, the Interior Ministry had distanced itself from Issa Adam Ismael’s words and said that it was committed to “supporting the popular will to implement a change”.
The prosecutor added and reminded that human rights were violated and women were humiliated under the protection of these laws. Given the unanimity, it is no wonder that the police chief lost his job.
