نداء هام وعاجل لكل الشرفاء

Quote: Amnesty Urgent Action on Taj Alsir Jafar URGENT ACTION SUDANESE STUDENT ACTIVIST DETAINED On 30 December 2011, student activist Taj Alsir Jaafar was arrested by security forces in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. He is being held incommunicado at an unknown location, and is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. He may be a prisoner of conscience, detained for the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association. His mother has been threatened because of her attempts to see her son. Taj Alsir Jaafar, aged 25, was arrested by security forces in Khartoum on 30 December on his way home from university. According to a witness, he was travelling on a bus when security forces forced him to get off. On 18 January, Taj Alsir Jaafar’s mother was informed that he was being held by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). However, his exact whereabouts are unknown. After several attempts to find out the whereabouts of her son, Taj Alsir Jaafar’s mother was able to take a package of his clothes to the NISS headquarters in Khartoum on 21 January. However, she was unable to see him. Since her son’s arrest, his mother has been verbally threatened on at least two occasions by plain-clothed individuals believed to be linked to the security forces, and told not to inquire about her son. She may be at risk if she continues to do so . Taj Alsir Jaafar is a student coordinator for the opposition party The Movement of New Democratic Forces (known as HAQU, meaning “right” in Arabic) at Khartoum University. He is believed to have been arrested for his participation in student protests from 22 to 25 December which included a sit-in at the university. If he is detained solely for participating in peaceful protests, Amnesty International would consider him to be a prisoner of conscience. He was previously detained by the NISS in 2009 and January 2011 for his activities as a student activist and was allegedly tortured in detention in 2009. He was released without charge on both occasions. Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:  Call on the authorities to release Taj Alsir Jaafar immediately and unconditionally, if he is held solely for his participation in peaceful protests;  If he is facing other recognizably criminal charges, unrelated to the peaceful protests, call for him to be tried promptly in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards;  Call on the authorities to ensure that Taj Alsir Jaafar is not tortured or otherwise ill treated and has access to his family, a lawyer and any medical treatment he may require;  Urge the authorities to take action to protect Taj Alsir Jaafar's mother, in accordance with her wishes, following the threats against her;  Call on the Sudanese government to immediately stop the harassment and intimidation of activists in Sudan and to respect their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 6 MARCH 2012 TO: Minister of Justice Mr Mohammed Bushara Dousa Ministry of Justice, PO Box 302 Al Nil Avenue Khartoum, Sudan Fax: +249 183 764 168 Salutation: Your Excellency Minister of Interior Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed Ministry of Interior PO Box 873 Khartoum, Sudan Salutation: Your Excellency And copies to: President HE Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir Office of the President People’s Palace PO Box 281 Khartoum, Sudan Email: [email protected] Fax: +249 183 770 621 Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below: Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.