Sudan Organisation Against Torture

Human Rights Alert: 5 May 2005

Darfur : Further Arrest of Students

On 19 April 2005, Security Forces in al-Fashir, North Darfur State arrested nine students at al-Fashir University. Three of the students remain in detention without charge, one is in hospital receiving medical treatment, and five have been released without charge. The details of the students are as follows:

Hashim Farkh Eldin, (shot with live ammunition, receiving medical treatment in hospital);
Ahmed Ibrahim Sabeil, medical student, from the Zaghawa tribe and member of the Popular National Congress (PNC);
Mohamed Abd elAzeez Karam Allaha;
Khalid Abd Allaha Raigo, student in the Faculty of Education, from the Zaghawa tribe;
Sharif Ahmed Daw Albait, from the Zaghawa tribe (released on 20 April 2005)
Mohamed Tahir Aila, student in the Faculty of Education (released on day of arrest, 19 April 2005);
Alhadi Ali Osman, (released on 20 April 2005)
Mohamed Abdelrahman Bokhari, student in the Faculty of Education, (released on 20 April 2005);
Omer Eshag Silk, medical Student, from Zaghawa tribe (released on 24 April 2005);

No reason was given for the arrest of the students; however, it is believed that the students were arrested in relation to events, which took place three weeks earlier. On 31 March 2005, students from al-Fashir University presented a memorandum to African Union monitors in al-Fashir supporting the referral of the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and requesting that the 51 perpetrators be handed over by the government to the ICC.

Following the presentation of the memorandum, students in al-Fashir University began to protest inside the university. The demonstration turned violent and the office of the Vice chancellor of the university, and the office of the Medical Students Association were set on fire and three computers were destroyed. Security forces believe that these students were active participants in the presentation of the memorandum.

SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrests and continued harassment of students, which forms a pattern of disrupting their education. SOAT expresses fears for the safety of the students and calls on the GoS to give assurances that they will not be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.

International human rights law guarantees the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. Article 20 of the Universal Declaration states; “Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” Article 21 of the Civil and Political Covenant secures the right to peaceful assembly and Article 22 protects freedom of association, which Sudan is state party to.

SOAT strongly urges the Government of Sudan to:

Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees;

Allow all detainees immediate and unrestricted access to their family and any medical treatment that they may require;

Ensure that all detainees has access to legal advice;

Order the immediate release of all the 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;

Ensure respect for rights to fair trial and to legal appeal in accordance with international human rights standards, for all detainees throughout Sudan;

Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards

His Excellency Field Marshal Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 783223

His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha
First Vice-President
People's Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 771025

Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 779383

Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 770883

Permanent Representative:

His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Elhassan Ahmed Elhaj

Ambassador

Avenue Blanc 47

1202 Geneva

Tel: 022 731 26 63

Fax: 022 731 26 56

Email: [email protected]

SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information, please contact us:

Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London NW6 5LF, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0)20 7372 2656
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.soatsudan.org

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