The Darfur Bar Association (DBA), has branded the special Court for Serious Crimes in Darfur, that was established a week ago, 'unconstitutional'.Â
Mohamed Abdallah El Doma, the chairman of the Association, described the proceedings for the formation of the court as “inconsistent with the 2005 Interim Constitution”.
“The procedures were enacted by the Chief of Justice and the Minister of Justice, who are no legislators,” he told Radio Dabanga from Khartoum. “Besides, the law does not apply to this new Darfur Court. In fact, all proceedings concerning the court are violating the rights of the accused.”
“Moreover”, El Doma said, “the 2011 Doha Document for Peace in Darfur stipulates the presence of international monitors, while the Darfur Court is now operating without any monitor.”
The DBA chairman said that he does not expect that “the real criminals” will be brought to justice. “In former cases, instead of well-known criminals, ordinary chicken thieves were put to trial.”
“In order to achieve justice, the real perpetrators of crimes against the people in Darfur should be held accountable. Criminals have been released before, as happened for instance with the Tabra case in Tawila, North Darfur. When the prosecutor was asked about the convicted, he said that they had escaped.”
File photo: DBA chairman Mohamed Abdallah El Doma