Letter to UAE re. Abdel Aziz Khalid

Letter to UAE re. Abdel Aziz Khalid

November 9, 2004

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan

President of the United Arab Emirates

Ruler of Abu Dhabi

Manhal Palace

P.O. Box 280, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates



Your Excellency,


Human Rights Watch is concerned for the safety of Abdel Aziz Khalid, who was detained by United Arab Emirates immigration authorities at Abu Dhabi Airport on September 23, 2004.
Human Rights Watch asks that the United Arab Emirates immediately release Abdel Aziz Khalid, a Sudanese national who is being detained by U.A.E. authorities solely on the basis of an extradition request from the government of Sudan. We believe that the Sudanese government’s extradition request is a politically motivated attempt to deny Abdel Aziz Khalid of his rights to freedom of _expression, association and movement.

Abdel Aziz Khalid is a respected Sudanese opposition figure who was traveling to the United Arab Emirates on September 23, 2004 to give lectures and hold meetings when he was arrested on a Sudanese government extradition request.


Abdel Aziz Khalid has been a critic of the Sudanese government since it came to power in a military coup in 1989. He has been a member of the Leadership Council of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a now-inactive Sudanese rebel force based in Asmara, Eritrea which is currently in negotiations with the government. In 1999, Abdel Aziz Khalid was accused of sabotage by the Sudanese government; on June 3, 2000, the president of Sudan issued an unconditional amnesty for all such acts inside and outside of Sudan.


The amnesty is conditional on the individual returning to Sudan. Abdel Aziz Khalid fears for his safety, regardless of the amnesty, and has chosen not to return to Sudan.


The government of Sudan has stated on a number of occasions that it does not intend to prosecute Abdel Aziz Khalid, and is only seeking “reconciliation.” By requesting extradition under these circumstances, the government is abusing the extradition mechanism.


Human Rights Watch fears that if Abdel Aziz Khalid is forcibly returned to Sudan, his personal safety and well-being will be jeopardized, and he will be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The Sudanese government periodically detains scores of political opposition members for prolonged periods, as it did with alleged coup plotters in March 2004 and again in September 2004. Three of those detained in September died in custody and their relatives claim that autopsies revealed they died under torture. Survivors of both mass arrests also claim they were tortured. Abdel Aziz Khalid faces no criminal charges in the UAE.

We respectfully call on the government of the United Arab Emirates to release him from detention immediately and without condition.


We thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.


Sincerely,


Peter Takirambudde

Executive Director

Africa Division


Sarah Leah Whitson

Executive Director

Middle East and North Africa Division


CC: HE Mohammad Nakhaira al-Dhahiri, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf

by fax +97122825121

HE Lt. Gen. Dr. Mohammad Saeed al-Badi. Minister of Interior

by fax +97124414938

HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahayan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

by fax +97124494994

HE Rashid Abdullah al-Nuaimi, Minister of Foreign Affairs

by fax +97126668015

an excellent and appreciated move

الاخت غادة

تحياتي

امنياتي ان تتكلل الجهود الجارية للطلاق سراح الوالد عبدالعزيز خالد

Quote: HE Lt. Gen. Dr. Mohammad Saeed al-Badi. Minister of Interior

لقد جرى تعديل وزاري صبيحة يوم وفاة سمو الشيخ زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان رحمه الله - تولى بموجبه الشيخ سيف بن زايد آل نهيان وزارة الداخلية .