القبض علي و تعذيب النساء الناشطات !!!رسالة منظمة ضحايا التعذيب السودانية

SOAT Press Release: 11 October 2004

Arrest and torture of woman activist





On 4 August 2004, the National Security Agency (NSA) arrested Mrs. Zubaida Rabih Abdallah at her office at the Crop Protection Department in Kadogli, Southern Kurdufan State. Mrs. Zubaida, 35 yrs old, married with 5 children and two months pregnant. She is from the Nuba Mountains, the Mierry Tribe and lives in the Ga’ar Alhajar Neighbourhood in Kadogli City. She was taken to the NSA offices in Kadogli.



Whilst in detention, Mrs. Zubaida was allegedly subjected to interrogation and torture. She was beaten with sticks on her shoulder, her fingers were twisted and she was kicked in her lower abdomen although her pregnancy was visible. Mrs. Zubaida has reported that she was sexually harassed, and one security officer attempted to remove her clothing.



On 6 August 2004, Mrs. Zubaida was transferred to Kadogli hospital and admitted there for nine days. During her hospitalization, Mrs. Zubaida was hand cuffed and tied to her hospital bed. On 15 August, Mrs. Zubaida was discharged from Kadogli hospital and returned into NSA custody, she has been charged under article 55 (Disclosure and Obtaining Information and Official Documents) and article 66 (Publication of False News) of the 1991 Penal Code. Mrs. Zubaida is now in he fourth month of pregnancy and is facing trial in Kadogli.



Background



Mrs. Zubaida was arrested following the arrest of a man by the NSA, while travelling from the Government controlled areas of the Nuba Mountains to the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) controlled areas, for alleged membership of the SPLA. According to security officers, among the man’s possession found during his arrest was a letter from Mrs. Zubaida to the SPLA’s women office leader.



Mrs. Zubaida is a well known woman activist in the Nuba Mountain and has previously attended workshops and conferences relating to women in both government and SPLA controlled areas.



SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrest and torture of Mrs. Zubaida and the continued harassment of women activists in Sudan and expresses fears for Mrs. Zubaida safety and is calling on the GoS to give assurances that she will not be tortured or ill-treated further.



SOAT urges the Government of Sudan:



Investigate allegations of torture and bring the perpetrators to justice


Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Mrs Zubaida Rabih Abdallah


Ensure that Mrs Zubaida Rabih Abdallah has access to legal advice


Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards


The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following addresses:

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

Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 788941

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

His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Al- Hassan Ahmed Al-Haj,
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva,
PO Box 335,
1211 Geneva,
Switzerland,
Fax: +4122 731 26 56,
E-mail: [email protected].


SOAT is 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:

SOAT
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