اطلقوا سراح المهندس ابو القاسم احمد ابو القاسم واخيه زكريا....

Quote: Contact: Dr. Dr. Ali DinarPresident, Darfur Alert Coalition W 215-898-6610 Lou Ann Merkle, Executive Director 484-250-2795 THE CASE QUICKLY DREW PROTESTS FROM HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. The activist brother of a local Darfurian immigrant has been arrested by Saudi Arabian authorities and forcibly deported to Sudan where he could face torture. Abulgasim Ahmad Abulgassim, a long-term resident of Saudi Arabia, was taken from his home in Jeddah earlier this week and placed on a plane to Khartoum, said his brother, El-Tigani Abulgassim, member of the Darfur Alert Coalition and who resides in Northeast Philadelphia. While the Saudi authorities have not divulged the reason for their action, it is believed that Mr. Abulgassim was wanted by the Sudanese regime for his continued vocal opposition to the ongoing government fostered genocide in Darfur. Since 2003 close to 400,000 mostly non-Arab Darfurians have been killed and an additional 3 million are now living in desperate situations in camps inside Sudan or in neighboring Chad. "I am greatly worried about my brother," said El-Tigani Abulgassim. "He suffers from high blood pressure and requires medical attention. My people all know the practices of the government and how they treat so-called political prisoners. We pray for his safety and return to his family. He has lived in Saudi Arabia for close to 30 years. Why would the Saudis now turn him over to the hands of authorities known to be torturers and even worse?" "We call on the Sudanese to immediately release this innocent man," stated Lou Ann Merkle, Director of the Philadelphia based Darfur Alert Coalition. “How this individual is treated is being closely watched by the many thousands of Americans and thousands Europeans who have expressed very real concern with the plight of the people of Darfur" Political opponents report that the current Sudanese regime has recently arrested sixteen other leading Darfurian dissidents including Zakeria, another brother of Mr. Tigani Abulgassim. The government has described the dissidents as "terrorists" and has noted that western nations have arrested large numbers of terrorists as well Abulgassim forcible deportation and detention represents a new phase in the Government of Sudan's unbridled aggression against Darfurians. The Sudanese Regime has now enlisted the assistance of another government in persecuting a dissenter beyond the borders of Sudan. Darfur Alert Coalition (DAC) joins with Amnesty International, Physicians for Human Rights and other human rights advocacy groups in condemning the arrest and detention of Abulgasim Ahmad Abulgassim. DAC condemns Saudi Arabia for violating its international obligations by allowing Abulgasim Ahmad Abulgassim to be forcibly sent to Sudan where he is at risk of serious human rights abuses, including torture. DAC seeks assurances that he is being treated humanely and has access to medical care if necessary and DAC calls for his immediate release. For additional information contact: Dr. Ali Dinar at [email protected]. Mr. El-Tigani Abu al-Ghassem is available for media interviews. DARFUR ALERT COALITION PO Box 42036 Philadelphia, PA 19101 Email: [email protected] www.darfuralert.blogspot.com Photo: Left: Abulgasim Ahmad Abulgassim Right: El-Tigani Abulgasim Painting By debra Kapnek LOCAL DARFURIAN’S BROTHER FORCIBLY DEPORTED TO SUDAN – FACES TORTURE OR WORSE Select this headline and type your own: If your headline is only one line, delete this PLACEHOLDER text DARFUR ALERT COALITION