تضامنوا : ثلاثة أشخاص يواجهون عقوبة الموت ...شنقاً !

Sudanese Citizens facing imminent Death by Hanging!

Concerned Sudanese citizens request your immediatet intervention with the government of the Sudan to mitigate the death sentence by hanging issued by a Sudanese special criminal court. Three persons were allegedly found guilty of stealing items estimated at 100 million Sudanese pounds. This amount is approximately the equivalent of $50,000. Although, we are not aware of the laws which govern the constitution and jurisdiction of the so called “Special Criminal Courts”, it is safe to say that this sentence is unusually cruel and disproportionate with the alleged crimes. It is a gross violation of human rights and contravenes the UN Human Rights Charter and the Geneva Convention. The existing criminal laws in the Sudan are based on the self-styled Shariaa laws introduced in 1983 by the defunct Numeiri’s regime. Human rights advocates inside the Sudan and abroad have ever since been continuously demanding abolishment of these notorious laws which clearly undermine the tenets of leniency and moderation in Islam.
We appeal to all people of conscious and regard for human lives to raise their voices against excessive cruelty and injustice. Please, add your name to this list which will be forwarded to the President of the Republic of the Sudan and human rights organizations worldwide.

P.S. Below lies a verbatim translation of the court verdict published by “Al-Sudany” daily in its issue of 23 – 8 – 2006.

Alsudany (Daily Newspaper – Khartoum
August 23, 2006
Khartoum North special criminal court, presided over by Justice Usama Othman yesterday handed out death sentence by hanging for 3 persons accused of stealing power towers that conduct electricity between Aljaily and Atbara (cities). The court also sentenced 3 others to life imprisonment. Seven others were given different jail sentences.
The defendants were convicted for a myriad of crimes such as waging war against the State, theft, complicity, receipt of stolen money and abetting. The Court previously acquitted 13 defendants accused of commission of the above said crimes for lack of evidence. According to the court proceedings the persons who were found guilty were able to steal 26 from a total of 40 power towers that conduct electricity between Aljaily to Atbara. As a result they hampered electricity supply from Khartoum to the Nile River State and hence caused damage estimated at 100 million Sudanese pounds.
Court records showed that the police was able to retrieve the stolen items from the scrap market in Omdurman and from other merchants.
Justice Minister, Mohammed Ali Al-Mardi described the sentences as harsh and a deterrent to others. He told reporters that the verdict shall protect public money. It also demonstrates the competence of our national judges and their integrity. The prosecution was represented by Counselor Yasir Ahmed Mohammed, chairperson of the State Security organ and counselor Ahmed Abdelatif Albeshir, head of the criminal prosecution unit. Counselor Abdelatif stated after the verdict was pronounced that the punishment was commensurate with the crime committed by the defendants. He added to Alsudany (daily) that the convicts used violent means to unlawfully usurp State funds. Hence, they inflicted damage to a huge project intended to supply electricity to (other) citizens.

Reported by: Hafiz Alkheir
Khartoum