Press Release

APRIL 4, 2004

On the Current Arrests of Politicians and Army Members

The Sudan Human Rights Organization Cairo Office is gravely concerned for the arbitrary arrests of political leaders and activists as well as a majority of African-descent DarFurian military personnel in the Sudanese Armed Forces in these past days.

The Organization is deeply concerned the authorities accused the arrested citizens with the commission of acts punishable by death sentences or life imprisonment. The Organization is additionally concerned government officials and media agencies have been unlawfully launching an unprecedented campaign to criminalize the detainees in gross violation of the due principle of justice that clearly presumes the accused innocence until proven guilty.

SHRO-Cairo received reliable information tens of citizens have been arbitrarily arrested, including leader of the Popular Congress Party Dr. Hassan al-Turabi, secretary general Dr. Bashir Adam Rahama, member of the executive bureau of the party Ibrahim al-Sanoasi, social affairs secretary Badreldeen Taha, Khartoum secretary Adam al-Tahir Hamdoun, economic secretary Hassan Sattui, as well as party lawyers Suliman Sandal, Mohamed Ahmed Dahab, Ahmed Fedail, Mohamed ‘Abd Allah al-Doama, Mohamed Isma’il, Mohamed Haroun, and Babiker ‘Abd-Allah.

Among the arrested military personnel, the authorities arbitrarily arrested colonel (pilot) Fathi Abbakar Mohamed Salih, Lieutenant-Colonel (engineer) ‘Abd-Allah Mohamed Adam Idris, Captain (pilot) ‘Abd al-Mageed ‘Abbas Hammad, Captain Khalid ‘Osman Nasr Hamdan, Captain Salahaldeen ‘Atiyat-Allah ‘Ageeb, Captain ‘Abd-Allah Shamaina ‘Abd al-Jabar Bakhiet, ‘Ali Ibrahim Fadl, Sayed a-Maqboul Adam al-Haj, and Captain ‘Abd-Allah al-Haj Ahmed.

Most of the detainees were promptly accused of violating Sections 50,58,62,63,66 and 69 of the criminal Law 1991 (unlawful acts to destroy the political system, sedition, and abetment) – all punishable with death or life imprisonment. All party offices have been closed by security orders in Khartoum and the other provinces.

The Organization believes that these arrests were politically motivated, as clearly revealed in state official statements. The head of state publicly accused al-Turabi before White Nile public ceremony of “unwillingness to abide-by Islamic Shari’a.” Referring to a proposal by Turabi concerning application of Shari’a on personal grounds instead of imposing Islamic law on all inhabitants of the National Capital, the head of state said, “Turabi legalized wine drinking and bars opening in Khartoum.”

SHRO-Cairo believes that the Turabi views on application of the Shari’a Law might have embarrassed the government that used to think of him as mentor of the Islamic Project the government actively implement. The recent arrests of army members aimed to remove DarFur African descent citizens from the Armed Forces, which have been launching a genocide war against the African descent citizens of DarFur.

The Organization has been closely informed the DarFur military personnel openly expressed strong opposition to the government’s genocide policies in DarFur. Some of the detained officers refused to execute army orders to attack civilians in DarFur.

- SHRO-Cairo calls upon the Sudan Government to stop the ongoing campaign to criminalize the detained citizens by media campaigns;

- The arrested persons must be allowed to enjoy lawful trial, including the enjoyment of innocence presumption, legal consultation and relatives’ visitation;

- The Organization received information the Nyala prompt justice court sentenced with cross amputations DarFur citizens Idris Ibrahim Idris, Mahmoud Yahya Adam, Yahya al-Doma Yahya, and ‘Abd al-Karim ‘Abd-Allah who had been earlier arrested in March 2003 accused of armed robbery.

- The Organization condemns the trial of citizens before prompt justice courts whose criminal procedures grossly violate the due process of justice.

- The Organization strongly condemns the imposition of physical punishments as degrading penalties of the human dignity as well as gross violations of international human rights norms.

- Calling on the authorities to stop execution of physical punishment, SHRO-Cairo insists the accused persons should be appropriately retried before Sudan ordinary courts.