Lubna al-Hussein is a Sudanese journalist and activist who gained international attention in July 2009, when she was prosecuted for wearing trousers. At the time of her arrest, al-Hussein worked for the media department of the United Nations mission in Sudan and was known for her outspoken criticism of the government’s policies. In July 2009, she and 12 others were taken into custody for “dressing indecently in public”—an offense punishable by flogging. Hussein refused to plead guilty and demanded a trial. When the court fined her for her behavior, she chose to remain in prison, but was freed by the government under international pressure.