Bor woman harassed over ‘indecent dressing’ withdraws case
Yar Ayuen Mabior, the woman who was accused of indecent dressing and later subjected to inhumane treatment in Bor, Jonglei State, has withdrawn the case against her attackers. She said she was convinced by the elders and leaders of the Bor community.
On Saturday, Mabior posted a video on social media that her case had been transferred to the community, and that despite being subjected to humiliation over an indecent dress, which, according to her, was not the case, she heeded the elders’ advice and dropped the case.
“I am not an attention seeker. What happened yesterday was that the case was withdrawn to be solved in the community, “she said.
“The commissioner and many people from the Bor community said the case should not be handled in court but should be solved in the community. I have been convinced to withdraw the case. It is not that I was not harassed or humiliated. I have withdrawn the case. “
Gender-based violence
On Friday, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Media Authority, who is also a human rights lawyer and a women’s rights activist, Atong Majok Kur, slammed the harassment incident, terming it gender-based violence.
Speaking to the City Review on Friday, Atong noted that the laws of South Sudan did not limit people to what they should wear.
In her defamation suit, she said the traditional court was not mandated to handle defamation cases according to the constitution.
“The second thing is that these traditional courts do not have jurisdiction over defamation cases, so a traditional leader cannot handle a defamation case.”
Atong rubbished social media reports that the victim was stripped baked, adding that Mabior was just ordered to change the clothes she was wearing. She said someone was sent home to bring her a dress deemed ‘decent.’
Gen Ajak Ayuen Mach last week sued Yar Ayuen Mabior, claiming that she had defamed him because she shared her pictures and video of her harassment to Facebook and Twitter users who insulted him.
Inhumane treatment
On Friday, a lawmaker in the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Mayen Deng Alier Mading, released a statement on behalf of the Forum for Economic and Social Equity, referring to the act of harassing women over what they wear in Bor as inhumane treatment of women.
He called on the First Lady, Ayen Mayardit; Vice President for Service Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior; the Speaker of R-TNLA, Jemma Nunu Kumba, and other women alike, who were attacked by mistreating young ladies.
“These uncouth, uncivilized, and barbaric actions meted upon women of Jonglei State by rogue security are equally an attack on the character of Mama Mary Ayen Mayardit, Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Rt Hon Nunu Kumba, and all the women of South Sudan and beyond,” the statement read.
