S V T G
Sudanese Victims of Torture Group

PRESS RELEASE: 3 January 2002

THREE MEN EXECUTED TO DEATH BY HANGING

SVTG has received confirmed information that on 25 December 2001, three men form Northern Darfur were executed with death by handing after being convicted for robbery under Articles 167 and 168 of the 1991 Penal Code which state that the punishment for armed robbery (harraba) death and death followed by crucifixion.

The men were:
Hassan Is’hag Sabeil
Abd Alrahman Sulieman Adam, also convicted for murder.
Mohamed Ibrahim Hamid, also sentenced to imprisonment of ten years for possession of arms.

The three men were publicly executed in Alkaier prison in northern Darfur and were attended by the Governor of province, General Ibrahim Suliman.

A further four men were also sentence to death by hanging and are still awaiting execution. Those are Mohamed Adam Yahya and Ahmed Sulieman Mohamed from Alfahir, who were also sentenced on 25 December 2001 to amputation of the right hand and Mohamed Hassan Mahmoud and Ahmed Yassin also from Alfahir City.

In Southern Darfour, between the 5 September and 26 November, the Special Court in Nyala City, Darfur, sentenced 21 men to execution by hanging, and are still awaiting punishment.

The Special Court was established by the Governor of Southern Darfur Province, in accordance with the State of Emergency Act 1998, The Courts’ responsibilities include crimes of armed robbery, crimes against the state, crimes relating to drugs, armed robbery, public nuisance and it operates with two military judges and one civil judge.

Lawyers are forbidden from standing before the court and plaintiffs are given the right to appeal, only when sentenced to death or amputation. In such instances the appeal must be within 7 days of the sentence and is the District Chief Justice - his decision is final.

SVTG calls upon the Government of Sudan to:

i. Permanently abolish the death penalty in Sudan.
ii. To ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all prisoners in Sudan and guarantee their right to free trial.
iii. 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] [2]