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, she worked for the media department of the United Nations mission in Sudan and was known for her public criticism of the government’s policies. In July 2009, she and 12 others were taken into custody for “dressing indecently in public" – an offense that could be punishable by whipping. Hussein refused to plead guilty and demanded a trial. When the court fined her for her behavior, she chose to remain in prison instead, but was freed to avoid more international embarrassment for the government of Sudan. She is currently working to change the law under which she was charged and has succeeded in bringing global attention to the plight and mistreatment of Sudanese women.