| HE Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir Office of the President People’s Palace PO Box 281 Khartoum, Sudan |
Mohammed Boushara Dossa Ministry of Justice PO Box 302 Al Nil Avenue Khartoum, Sudan |
| Ali Ahmed Karti Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Relations PO Box 873 Kharthoum, Sudan |
Ibrahim Mahmoud Ahmed Ministry of Interior PO Box 873 Khartoum, Sudan |
| Advisory Council for Human Rights, Rapporteur PO Box 302 Khartoum, Sudan |
Embassy of Sudan in Brussels Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 1241050 Brussels, Belgium |
| Musa Abdelrahim Mohamed Adam Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Sudan 354 Stewart Street Ottawa, ON K1N 6K8 |
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva Avenue Blanc 51-53 (3rd Floor) 1202 Geneva, Switzerland |
Dear Sirs:
Re: Arbitrary Arrest and Detention of 13 Defenders
Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) is a committee of Canadian lawyers and law professors who campaign internationally for advocacy rights and advocates in danger and on rule of law issues.
I am a lawyer and a partner of a law firm in Canada. I am writing, as a member of LRWC, in response to information obtained from the Observatory indicating that between June 23rd and July 12th,Sudan authorities launched a campaign of arrests targeting human rights defenders in the context of popular mass protests calling for regime change, peace and justice.
The following human rights defenders have been arrested and remain in custody without any charges laid and without any confirmation of their well-being:
– Mr. Mohamed Salah Mohamed, President of the Nubian Students Association
– Mr. Mohamed Al-Usbat, journalist and activist
– Ms. Nahid Gabralla, women’s rights activist, member of Sima Organisation for Child Rights
– Ms. Amira Osman, women’s rights activist, member of “No to Women’s Oppression”
– Mr. Faisal Shabou, women’s rights activist, member of Sima Organisation for Child Rights
– Ms. Rashida Shams, member of Girifnaand member of “No to Women’s Oppression”
– Mr. Tarig El Sheikh, lawyer, member of Darfur Bar Association
– Ms. Marwa el Tigany, journalist and human rights defender
– Mr. Al Said Mustafa, Chairperson of Al Shiroog Cultural Forum
– Mr. Ramzi Yahia, lawyer, affiliate of Al Shiroog Cultural Forum
– Mr. Abdulgadir Mahmoud, affiliate of Al Shiroog Cultural Forum
The following human rights defenders have been arrested and charged under Articles 63 (calling for opposition to public authority by use of violence or criminal force), 65 (criminal and terrorist organisations), 67 (rioting), 69 (disturbance of public peace), 71 (polluting the environment) and 72 (exposing ways and means of transport and communication to danger) of the Criminal Code 1991:
– Mr. Widad Dirwish, member of Girifna
– Mr. Radwan Daoud, member of Girifna
LRWC express their deepest concern about this case and the prevalence of torture, ill-treatment and incommunicado detention which seem to merely aim at inhibiting human rights activities and the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression as protected by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We therefore call on the authorities to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of all human rights defenders listed above, and release them immediately and unconditionally as their detention is arbitrary.
Lawyers Rights Watch Canada urges the authorities of Sudan to:
i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of the 13 human rights defenders mentioned above, as well as of all human rights defenders in Sudan;
ii. Put an end to any kind of harassment, including at the judicial level, against the 13 human rights defenders mentioned above, as well as of all human rights defenders in Sudan, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their activities without hindrances;
iii. Release the 13 human rights defenders mentioned above immediately and unconditionally as their detention is arbitrary since it only aims at sanctioning their human rights activities;
iv. Conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in particular its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, to promote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, and its article 12.2 which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;
v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Sudan.
We are hopeful you will investigate promptly the allegations outlined above and implement the relief requested. Your confirmation of receipt of this correspondence and actions to be taken would be appreciated.
Yours Very Truly,
Joe Hoffer, Sudan Monitor, Human Rights Watch Canada
Cc:
UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
wgad@ohchr.org
