Sudan: Detainment of Farouk Abu Issa and Dr. Amin Maki Madani | Letter

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February 23, 2015
HE Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir Office of the President
People’s Palace
PO Box 281

Mohamed Bushara Dousa Ministry of Justice
PO Box 302, Al Nil Avenue Khartoum, Sudan
Via email : moj@moj.gov.sd
Khartoum, Sudan

Your Excellencies:

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) is a committee of lawyers and academics who campaign internationally for advocacy rights, advocates in danger, and on rule of law issues and engage in legal research and education about international human rights law. I am a lawyer and a partner of a law firm in Canada, Cohen Highley LLP.

We previously wrote to you on December 16th, 2014 and January 5th, 2015 regarding the detainment of Farouk Abu Issa and Dr. Amin Maki Madani. We have been advised that although Your Excellency indicated that both men be released in January, both men have been charged with the following and remain in detention:

1. Complicity to execute a criminal agreement
2. Undermining the constitutional system
3. Opposition of the public authority by violence or criminal force

The purpose of this correspondence is to request that Sudan immediately and unconditionally release Farouk Abu Issa and Dr. Amin Maki Madani and that pending their release, these men are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated, or put at risk of death and they are given prompt access to adequate medical care.

In addition to asking that the basic rights of these detained individuals be respected and upheld, we appeal, on basic humanitarian and compassionate grounds, for their release so that they can receive basic medical treatment for their grave condition. We respectfully submit that the arbitrary detention of such elderly and infirm individuals is a rejection of basic human values.

LRWC is hopeful you will ensure prompt and thorough investigations of the allegations outlined above and take steps necessary to implement the remedies required. Your confirmation of receipt of this correspondence and actions to be taken would be appreciated.

Yours Very Truly,

Joe Hoffer
Sudan Monitor, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada