منظمة العفو الدولية تطالب السلطات السودانية بسماح الطبيب لمقابلة السيد المناضل مبارك الفاضل

Quote: Public AI Index: AFR 54/042/2007 Distribution: PG/SC To: Health Professional Network From: Health and Human Rights Team Date: 10 August 2007 Health Professional Action Sudan Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi Summary: Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi, a 57-year-old political prisoner detained in Kober prison, in Khartoum North, Sudan, suffers from a number of related gastro-oesophageal problems for which he has been taking medication with only partial success. He was due to attend a hospital in London, UK, in mid-July 2007 for investigative gastro-oesophageal endoscopy to be followed by further treatment. He is also reported to have hypertension with elevated cholesterol levels which require proper clinical management. Amnesty International is calling for Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi to have access to medical care while in detention, including access to his own doctor as provided for in international standards. See the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, Rule 91: “An untried prisoner shall be allowed to be visited and treated by his own doctor … if there is reasonable ground for his application and his is able to pay any expenses incurred.â€‌ If not promptly charged with a recognizable criminal offence, he should be released to seek the medical investigation and treatment he requires. Background: Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi, the leader of the opposition Umma Party Reform and Renewal (UPRR), was arrested in his home in Khartoum on 14 July by some 12 heavily armed members of the National Intelligence and Security Service. Those arrested at the same time include the Secretary General of the UPRR, Abdel Jalil al-Basha, and some 15 former military men. At press briefings spokespersons of the National Intelligence and Security Service have accused those arrested of smuggling arms and of planning sabotage to encourage foreign intervention, or a coup d’أ©tat. Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi denies this and told his son that he knew only one of the army officers who have been accused of the same offence. None of those arrested has been formally charged. Since his arrest, Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi has been held incommunicado except for one 15-minute visit from his son at 11pm on 25 July. He complained at that time of feeling severely ill, and said that, notwithstanding his requests, he had not been visited by any doctor. He is held in solitary confinement and complains of unsanitary conditions and poor food. Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi held various ministerial positions between 1986 and 1989 in the Umma Party government before the coup d’أ©tat which brought the present government to power. He founded the Umma Party Reform and Renewal which broke away from the Umma Party to join the government in 2002. Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi served as Assistant to the President of Sudan from 2002 until 2004. He has been critical of the policy of the Government of Sudan in Darfur and negotiations relating the unifying the Umma Party before next year’s elections were said to be underway. Article 31 of the 1999 National Security Forces Act gives the security forces the power to detain people for up to nine months without access to judicial review. Recommended actions: Please write letters in Arabic, English or in your own language to the addresses below Explaining that you are a health professional concerned about human rights Expressing concern that Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi has been arrested and is detained without access to any doctor, including his own doctor Noting that at the time of his arrest he was scheduled to have further investigations and treatment for a gastro-oesophageal problem Urging the authorities to take immediate steps to address the health problems of Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi Calling for the authorities to allow Mubarak al-Fadel al-Mahdi to seek medical care of his choice and urging the authorities to release him if he is not to be promptly charged with a recognizable criminal offence. Addresses: Field Marshal Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir President of the Republic of Sudan Office of the President People's Palace PO Box 281 Khartoum Prof. Al-Zubair Bashir Taha Minister of Internal Affairs Ministry of Interior PO Box 281 Khartoum Sudan Fax: +249 183 774 339 or +249 183 776 554 (Please mark your fax: “FAO Minister of Internal Affairsâ€‌) Salutation: Dear Minister Copies Please send copies of your letters to: Dr Abdel Moneim Osman Taha Please also send copies to the Rapporteur, Advisory Council for Human Rights nearest diplomatic representative Khartoum of Sudan Sudan