S V T G
Sudanese Victims of Torture Group

PRESS RELEASE: 2 November 2001

ARREST OPPOSITION LEADERS AND LAWYERS

On Wednesday 31 October the security forces arrested the following four lawyers:

Jalal Mmohamed El Sayid
Omar Sid Ahmed
Bakri Gibreel
Mohamed Hussain

Security officers arrested the men from the house of Mohamed Hussain at 8pm, together with two leading members of the Communist Party, Yousif Hussain Mohamed and Abbas Mohamed Al Tahir.

No reason was given for the arrest and the men have not been charged although officers alleged the lawyers had held an illegal meeting. The whereabouts of the men is currently unknown to their families and both their families and lawyers have been denied access to them.

Yousif Hussain has been arrested three times since 1989 and has spent over 5 years in prison without charge or trail during which time he was severely tortured.

Bakri Gibreel has been arrested twice before and has spent over two years in prison, without charge or trail during which time he was severely tortured.

Jalal Mohamed el Sayid is a prominent lawyer and was a lawyer for the trial of the member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) earlier this year. He was arrested twice before and spent over two years in prison with charge or trial

SVTG considers that the arrest of the members of the Communist Party and the lawyers to be aimed at spreading fear and preventing lawyers, activists and trade unionists from expressing their opinions and carrying out political or human rights activities in Sudan. Over the past week security forces have targeted lawyers; On Tuesday 30 October, Mr Adil Mahmoud, a lawyer, was also arrested from his office in Khartoum at 1pm. Shortly afterwards, two other lawyers Nasr Aldeen Yousif and Haydar Abdelrahman were arrested from their offices, also in Khartoum. Nasr and Haydar were released at 11pm but were ordered to report back to the security offices on Wednesday 31 October.

Such arrests and part time detentions violate many international human rights binding provisions. SVTG recalls that Sudan is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obliges states parties to protect all persons from arbitrary detentions and to treat all persons with humanity and respect.

SVTG calls upon the Sudanese government to:

i. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the lawyers and the two opposition leaders;
ii. Order their immediate release if they are being held without charge or, in the event that they will be charged, ensure their right to a fair and impartial trial and guarantee their right to legal counsel at all times;
iii. Put an end to the harassment of lawyers and political activists by security forces;
iv. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards.

Addresses
His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Telex: 22385 PEPLC SD or 22411 KAID SD- Fax: +249 11 771 7 24

Mr Ali Osman Yasin, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan. Telex:22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs) – Fax: +249 11 7740 63

Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Telex: 22459 KHRJA SD or 22461 KHRJA SD – Fax: 249 11 7740 63

SVTG is an independent non-governmental human rights organisation, for further details on this press release or any other information please contact;
The Sudanese Victims of Torture Group
Park Business Centre
Kilburn Park Rd
London NW6 5LF
UK
Tel: +44 20 76258055
Email: [email protected]