UPDATE: Human Rights Defenders Arbitrarily Detained in the Wake of Mass Popular Protests in Sudan

(20 July 2012) The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) has continued to arbitrarily arrest and detain human rights defenders on account of their work monitoring and reporting on the Sudanese Government’s response to protests that have taken place around Sudan since 16 June 2012.

On 17-18 July, NISS arrested three human rights defenders from their offices in Nyala, South Darfur:

1. Abdul Rahman Abu Al Hassan, (m), lawyer, arrested on 18 July 2012.
2. Ahmed Mohamed Abdallah, (m), lawyer, arrested at 9am on 17 July 2012.
3. Adil Abdallah Nasr El Dein, (m), lawyer, arrested at midday on 17 July 2012.

The three men were released at 10:30pm on 18 July but were re-arrested from their offices at 9:00am the following morning.

The three men were arrested after submitting an open letter to the Governor of South Darfur on 16 July, signed by “Nyala lawyers.” The letter, submitted on behalf of “Nyala lawyers” and the people of Nyala, called on the Governor to release all political detainees who have been arrested for engaging in peaceful protests, to respect the constitution and to guarantee the right to freedom of expression and association. The letter also raised the issue of the deteriorating security, economic and public health situation in South Darfur, in addition to a lack of effective policies to address rising food prices and the budget deficit.

The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has also received information about the arrest of the following three individuals by NISS in Khartoum:

1. Mai Shatta, (f), human rights defender, arrested on 1 July from her home in Omdurman.
2. Amro Hamad Omar, (m), lawyer and human rights defender, arrested on 29 June from the Wad Nubawi area of Omdurman. His whereabouts are not known and his family has not been able to visit him.
3. Fathi Albhiri, (m), teacher, writer, blogger, human rights defender, arrested on 23 June in Omdurman.

Updates

On 16 July, ACJPS reported on the arbitrary arrest and detention of the following eleven human rights defenders, who remain at risk of torture and ill treatment in NISS custody:

1. Mohamed Al-Usbat, (m), journalist and activist, arrested at 10.20pm on 12 July from his home in Khartoum.
2. Nahid Gabralla, (f), women’s rights activist, member of Sima Organisation for Child Rights, arrested on 3 July from the Sima Organisation for Child Rights office, in Khartoum North.
3. Amira Osman, (f), women’s rights activist, member of “No to Women’s Oppression”, arrested on 22 June, along with five others during a protest in the Al Riyadh district of Khartoum. All were released after five hours, but Amira Osman was re-arrested from her home five days later, on 27 June.
4. Faisal Shabou, (m), women’s rights activist, member of Sima Organisation for Child Rights, arrested on 24 June from the Sima Organisation for Child Rights office in Khartoum North.
5. Rashida Shams, (f), member of Girifna and “No to Women’s Oppression,” arrested on 18 June with 33 other youth activists from the Haaq political party’s offices in Khartoum, during a meeting of 8 youth groups. All detainees were subsequently released but two of the activists were re-arrested, including Rashida Shams, who was re-arrested on 23 June.
6. Tarig El Sheikh, (m), lawyer, member of Darfur Bar Association, arrested on 3 July from his office in Khartoum. He is currently detained by NISS in Kober prison in Khartoum Bahri.
7. Marwa el Tigany, (f), human rights defender, arrested on 3 July together with two other women from an internet café in Al Haj Youssef, Khartoum Bahri. The three women were witnessed being taken in a security vehicle with the number plate 72091KH2. One of the women, Shima Adil, an Egyptian journalist working for the Egyptian newspaper Al Watan, was released on 16 July.
8. Al Said Mustafa, (m), Chairperson of Al Shiroog Cultural Forum, arrested on 26 June from his home in Al Gadarif, Eastern Sudan.
9. Abdulgadir Mahmoud, (m) activist and member of Popular Congress Party, arrested on 26 June from his home in Al Gadarif, Eastern Sudan.
10. Rudwan Daoud, (m), member of Girifna, arrested on 3 July from Al Haj Youssef, Khartoum Bahri, on 3 July with 14 other individuals, including his brother and father.
11. Ramzi Yahia, (m), lawyer and affiliate of Al Shiroog Cultural Forum, arrested on 26 June from his home in Al Gadarif, Eastern Sudan,

ACJPS is concerned Mr Ramzi Yahia’s health condition serisously deteriorated after he went on a hunger strike on 7 July. He was transferred to Al Gadarif hospital on 16 July.

One of the detainees, Rudwan Daoud, has been charged. Mr Rudwan Daoud has been charged with offenses that do not reflect the peaceful nature of the protests and activities in which he reportedly engaged, giving rise to concerns that the charges are politically motivated and that he will not face a fair trial (see ACJPS press release, Human Rights Defenders Arbitrarily Detained in the Wake of Mass Popular Protests in Sudan, 16 July 2012).

ACJPS reiterates its call to the Government of Sudan to put an end to the harassment of human rights defenders and enable the continuance of their work in defence of human rights. We call on the Government of Sudan to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of all detainees and to order their immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international legal standards or, if such charges exist, to bring them before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times.

Background

The arrest of human rights defenders has taken place in the context of a wave of arbitrary arrests and detentions across Sudan, in response to popular mass protests calling for regime change, freedom, peace and justice.

The protests that have taken place throughout Sudan over recent weeks following an initial protest held on 16 June at the University of Khartoum in response to government austerity measures, inflation and price increases. Within days, the protests had spread to dozens of other locations within Khartoum and throughout the country, including Omdurman, Madani, Sinnar, Al Gadarif, Port Sudan, Al Obeid, Kassala and Hasaheisa. The popular message has transformed from one of concern for government austerity measures to calls for peaceful regime change. A wide cross-section of Sudanese civil society has taken to the streets, including members of the Democratic Lawyers Front, students, youth movements, doctors, journalists and women’s rights activists.

ACJPS has documented the arrest and detention of over 290 individuals since the first protest in Khartoum on 16 June. This includes at least 37 other human rights defenders who have subsequently been released. Activists have reported that the actual number of individuals arrested and detained in the context of the protests throughout Sudan since they began has exceeded 1,500.

This post is also available in: Arabic