Malawi orders halt to stripping attacks on women

LILONGWE, (Reuters) – Malawi’s president has  ordered police to arrest anyone who attacks women wearing  trousers or miniskirts after several females were stripped by  mobs angry at their non-traditional dress.
The southern African country used to have laws banning women  wearing short skirts and men having long hair or flared  trousers, but it dropped the restrictions when multi-party  democracy was introduced in the 1990s.
However, this week street vendors attacked several women in  Lilongwe and commercial capital Blantyre over their dress,  saying they were enforcing a government decree.
Several women in trousers and miniskirts were stopped,  beaten up and stripped naked.
“I will not allow anyone to wake up and go on the streets  and start undressing women and girls wearing trousers, because  that is illegal,” President Bingu wa Mutharika told state radio  on Thursday. “Every woman and girl has the right to dress the  way they wish.”
“No one should lie that I have asked vendors to assault  women dressed in trousers. It’s a lie and I will not allow  that,” the president said.
Women’s groups are planning marches on Friday in protest  against the attacks.