Human rights

Sudan: Darfuris arrested and physically abused following student protests

2008-04-18, Issue 363

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/47474

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The Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT) is concerned about the fate of an unknown number of Darfuris arrested following student protests in Khartoum. At least some of those detained have suffered serious physical abuse in custody.

Human Rights Alert: 16 April 2008

Darfuris Arrested and Physically Abused Following Student Protests

The Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT) is concerned about the fate of an unknown number of Darfuris arrested following student protests in Khartoum. At least some of those detained have suffered serious physical abuse in custody.

On 14 April Darfuri students at universities in Khartoum launched demonstrations against a decision to make high school pupils in Darfur sit an altered version of nationwide university entrance exams. In past years, university entrance exams have been uniform across the country. But the exam papers in use in schools in Darfur this year reportedly include additional questions that are not present in papers distributed elsewhere in the country. Protestors said the additional questions could affect Darfuri students' chances of securing university places. A large number of Darfuris – including students and graduates – were detained in connection with the 14 April demonstrations and charged with crimes including rioting and causing public nuisance.

SOAT is aware of at least one specific episode of serious physical abuse in custody that occurred in the wake of this wave of detentions. Bashir Abdala Adam (32 years old, employee of the Nana Consultancy Company) was arrested by agents of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) from the gates of Khartoum University at 3.30pm on 14 April. Although he is of Darfuri origin, Mr Adam says he was not involved in the demonstrations and was only visiting his brother at the university at the time of his arrest. The security agents who arrested him beat him severely inside their vehicle and then subjected him to further physical abuse in the offices of the political section of the NISS in Bahry, an area of Khartoum. At around midnight, security agents took Mr Adam and eight students to a police station in Khartoum North and attempted to hand them over into police custody. Police officers initially refused to accept any of the detainees because they had been physically abused. The police eventually agreed to accept the eight students but insisted that Mr Adam be taken to a hospital. Instead of taking Mr Adam to receive medical treatment, security agents drove him to a location near Bahry Electricity Station, where they beat him further with sticks and pipes and then left him.

Following his release, Mr Adam received a medical examination and obtained papers referring him for specialist treatment for injuries sustained during his time in the custody of the security services. But on 15 April Mr Adam was again detained by NISS agents from 4pm until 9.30pm and beaten all over his body with weapons including sticks, piping and wire. During this second period of detention, the security agents confiscated the medical papers referring him for treatment.

Article 33 of Sudan's Interim National Constitution asserts that, "No person shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment." International agreements that Sudan is party to – including the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Article 5) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 7) – include similar guarantees. In practice, however, physical abuse in custody is widespread in Sudan and is encouraged by a culture of impunity underpinned by mechanisms including immunity laws, pardons and amnesties for state officials responsible for human rights violations.

SOAT calls upon the Sudanese authorities to:

- Take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Bashir Abdala Adam and all others detained in connection with the student demonstrations in Khartoum

- Allow all detainees immediate and unrestricted access to family, legal advice and any medical treatment that they need

- Order the immediate release of all detainees in the absence of valid legal charges, or if legitimate charges exist, bring them before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times

- Conduct impartial and transparent investigations into the abuse suffered by Bashir Abdala Adam and other detainees, and bring to justice all suspected perpetrators, guaranteeing them fair trials according to internationally recognised standards

- Expedite reforms to bring the Sudanese justice system and all legislation into line with the Interim National Constitution and international human rights standards, and to end the impunity of state officials.

The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following addresses:

His Excellency President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir,
Office of the President,
People's Palace,
PO Box 281,
Khartoum, Sudan,

His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit,
First Vice-President,
People's Palace,
PO Box 281,
Khartoum, Sudan,

His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha,
Vice-President,
People's Palace,
PO Box 281,
Khartoum, Sudan,

Mr Abdel Bassit Sabdarat,
Minister of Justice,
Ministry of Justice,
PO Box 302,
Khartoum, Sudan

Mr Deng Alor,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Relations,
PO Box 873,
Khartoum, Sudan,

Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed,
Minister of Internal Affairs,
Ministry of Interior,
PO Box 873,
Khartoum, Sudan,

Dr Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha,
Advisory Council for Human Rights, Rapporteur,
PO Box 302,
Khartoum, Sudan,
Fax: +249 183 77 08 83

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva,
Avenue Blanc 47,
1202 Geneva, Switzerland,
Tel: +41 22 731 26 63,
Fax: +41 22 731 26 56,
Email: mission.sudan@bluewin.ch / mission.sudan@ties.itu.int

The Embassy of Sudan in Brussels,
Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 124,
1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Tel.:0032 (2) 647 51 59 / 0032 (2) 647 94 94,
Fax: 0032 (2) 648 34 99,
Email: sudanbx@yahoo.com

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the title and date of this SOAT publication in your reply.


For more information please contact:

Sudan Organisation Against Torture
Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London
NW6 5LF
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7372 2656
Email: info@soatsudan.org
Website: www.soatsudan.org

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