Press Release

FEBRUARY 26, 2005

On the Death of Amnesty International Founder Peter Benenson, 1921-2005

Friday 25 February 2005, Peter Benenson died in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford: "He brought light into the darkness of prisons, the horror of torture chambers and tragedy of death camps around the world. This was a man whose conscience shone in a cruel and terrifying world, who believed in the power of ordinary people to bring about extraordinary change and, by creating Amnesty International, he gave each of us the opportunity to make a difference," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

SHRO-Cairo activists have been inspired by the humanitarian activities of Mr. Benenson whose organization established activist groups with developed programs in Sudan since the mid 1980s, especially in the city of Medani led by Dr. Girshab and his colleagues, to release political prisoners, guarantee the freedom of expression and assembly, and commit the authorities to the respect of international human rights norms in full collaboration with the Sudan Human Rights Organization that had been founded in Khartoum and led by Dr. Mohamed Omer Beshir, Dr. Amin Mekki Medani, and their colleagues early in 1985.

The life of Peter Benenson, which was dedicated to a genuine service of humanity, and his brave stand by the side of victims all over the world will continue to inspire the human rights activists to strengthen the realization of international human rights norms, especially the humanitarian law, to ensure the public freedoms of people without discrimination, promote the process of peace, and advance democratic rule.

SHRO-Cairo calls on the authorities in Sudan to release immediately all political prisoners, especially Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim, the Darfur detainees, and the Beja activists in Eastern Sudan. The government must apprehend all suspects of crimes against humanity or genocide in Darfur to be referred to international court in accordance with the UN procedure. The government must allow uninterrupted relief efforts to the Darfur war-affected areas.

The Organization calls on the AI groups and the International Community to put the strongest pressure possible on the Sudan Government to act in a principled manner to advance the cause of peace. The government must include, without hesitation, all political parties and civil society groups to participate as full members in the Constitution Committee. Related to this, the government must convene a national constitutional conference as a real guarantee of the Naivasha Peace Agreements in collaboration with the United Nations and the other concerned parties.