56 opposition party members and human rights defenders arrested in January and February were released without charge on 10 April. They were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in connection with protests condemning the rise in the cost of food and medicine in Sudan since the beginning of January.
56 opposition party members and human rights defenders arrested in January and February were released without charge on 10 April. They were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in connection with protests condemning the rise in the cost of food and medicine in Sudan since the beginning of January. The government of Sudan released 56 opposition party members and human rights defenders without charge on 10 April. Those released include Omer Yousef El Digair, the chairperson of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCP); Almahi Suliman, the chairperson of SCP in Sennar State; Mohamed Mukhtar al Khatib, the political secretary of the Sudanese Communist Party; Mohamed Farouk Salman, a leading member of Sudan National Alliance – Forces; Mohieldeen Eljalad and Sidgi Kaballo members of the Sudanese Communist Party’s central committee; Ismail Adam Hamid, a political activist; Amjed Farid, a medical doctor and human rights defender; Omer Ushari, a human rights defender; Salih Mahmoud Osman, a human rights defender and Vice-Chairperson of the Darfur Bar Association and Khalid Omer Yousif, the acting chairperson of the SCP who was appointed after Omer Yousef’s arrest. Five other detainees arrested under the same circumstances as the 56 were released earlier in March. The opposition party members and human rights defenders were arrested by the NISS between January and February in connection with protests organised by opposition activists condemning the rise in the cost of food and medicine in Sudan from the beginning of January. For nearly three months, they were held in poor prison conditions. According to some of those released, more than 20 detainees would share a 5 by 7 metre cell. All detainees had to sleep on the floor. They did not have access to lawyers, books or any reading materials (except for the last week of their detention), and their families were only allowed 30 minute supervised visits every two weeks in the presence of an NISS officer. Additionally, during these family visits they were not allowed to discuss their detention conditions or the political situation in the country. Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES- READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION: Word or PDF
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