Sudan Organisation Against Torture

Human Rights Alert: 12 September 2005

Arrest and Detention of Student Activists in Nyala

On 28 August 2005, security forces in Nyala, Southern Darfur state, arrested fifteen student activists from Nyala University. During the arrests, the students were beaten and flogged. The students were arrested inside the university premises following disturbances inside the university, six of the students were released immediately and the remaining nine were taken to the security offices in Nyala where they were detained for two days.

On the second day, 30 August 2005, the students were transferred to Nyala Wasat (Central) Police station where they were officially charged under Article 69 (Disturbance of Public Peace) of the 1991 Penal Code. Following the official charges, the students were released on bail, and are awaiting trial.

While in detention at the security offices in Nyala, the students were allegedly subjected to ill-treatment. The security officers refused them access to the toilet and did not provide them with food.

The details of the students are as follows:

1. Moutasim Mohamed Adam; Education Faculty

2. Faculty of Moubarek Abdella Mohamed; Education Faculty

3. Mahmoud Hassan Daif Alla; Education Faculty

4. Mohamed Soulieman Mohamed; Engineering Faculty

5. Abdel Nasir Abdella Adam; Engineering Faculty

6. Waleed Nour Adam; Engineering Faculty

7. Majdi Idrees Adam; Engineering Faculty

8. Ali Yagoub Adam; Education Faculty

9. Fakhr Aldean Ahmed Hassan; Education Faculty

Background

The disturbances in the university followed the decision by Nyala university administration to close the university. The decision was made by the university following an academic dispute between the administration and the students over their exams results.

In a separate incident, on 1 September 2005, security forces arrested Ahmed Issa Alsouwar, (26 yrs), student at Nyala University, Faculty of Engineering. Mr Alsouwar was arrested at his home in Nyala – Khartoum Belail neighbourhood and taken to the security offices in Nyala where he remains in detention. No reason was given for the arrest. Mr. Alsouwar’s family have been denied access to him and are concerned that he may have been subjected to torture.

SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrests of the students and expresses fears for the safety of Ahmed Issa Alsouwar and calls on the GoS to ensure that he will not be subjected to torture or ill-treatment.

SOAT strongly urges the Government of Sudan to:

i. Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Ahmed Issa Alsouwar;

ii. Allow Ahmed Issa Alsouwar immediate and unrestricted access to his family and any medical treatment that he may require;

iii. Ensure that Ahmed Issa Alsouwar has access to legal advice;

iv. Order the immediate release of Ahmed Issa Alsouwar in the absence of valid legal charges, or if legitimate charges exist, bring him before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times;

v. Ensure respect for rights to fair trial and to legal appeal in accordance with international human rights standards, for all detainees throughout Sudan;

vi. Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms 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 Field Marshal Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 783223

His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit

First Vice-President
People's Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 771025

His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha
Vice-President
People's Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 771025

Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs/External Relations
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

Permanent Representative:

His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Elhassan Ahmed Elhaj

Ambassador

Avenue Blanc 47

1202 Geneva

Tel: 022 731 26 63

Fax: 022 731 26 56

Email: [email protected]

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