Sudan Organisation Against Torture

Human Rights Alert: 20 May 2005

Update: Release of Detainees from Security Detention

The following persons were released from security detention centres in Darfur on 8 May 2005;

1. Ibrahim Abaker Bakour, (45 yrs), Merchant. Mr. Ibrahim was arrested on 17 January 2005 from his shop in Nyala central market on suspicion of supporting the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). Mr. Ibrahim was detained in security offices in Nyala and was not charge with any official charges.

2. Alsadig Ahmed Harba arrested on 19 March from Jeway Kheen village on suspicion of participating in an attack on Bouram town on the 10 March 2004 by the SLA.

3. Ibraheam Hussain Wadi, (24 yrs), was arrested by security forces on 9 April 2005 after visiting his cousin Jamal Abdella Soulieman, (23 yrs) in hospital in Nyala and taken to security detention offices in Nyala where he remained in detention until his release on 8 May 2005. Mr. Jamal who sustained serious injuries during an attack on his village Hejair Tono, 35 km south of Nyala Town, Southern Darfur state by armed militias on horseback was also arrested and chained to his hospital bed and remains in detention.

SOAT is pleased to announce the release of these men, all of whom were detained without charges. SOAT considered their arbitrary arrests and detention a gross violation of international human rights standards. SOAT expresses deep concern about the continued targeting of persons accused of supporting the SLA, on 14 May 2005, security police (Shourta Amneya) arrested Altayib Abdel Aziz Jiddo, (28 yrs), farmer belonging to the Zaghawa tribe at the entrance to Nyala hospital on suspicion of joining the SLA. Mr. Altayib was taken to police headquarters in Nyala where he remains in detention and is facing no official charges. SOAT calls on the government of Sudan to order the immediate release all 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.

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