Security agents have arrested an unknown number of students and subjected at least one of them to beatings following unrest at al-Bahr al-Ahmar University in Port Sudan, Red Sea State. A human rights defender who tried to assist the detainees has also been targeted. (15-MAY-08)
 
Based on Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT)´s release, issued today, this article has been edited and prepared for publication here by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz.

On 11 May at 3pm members of the National Security and Intelligence Service (NISS) detained 25-year-old student Faries Abd Alhay Mohmed Ali from the gates of Port Sudan Hospital, in Red Sea State. Faries Abd Alhay Mohmed Ali, who studies at al-Bahr al-Ahmar University, is a member of a student political body called the Democratic Front. Following clashes between students at the university, he had been taking wounded individuals to the hospital for treatment. After his arrest he was taken to security premises and subjected to physical abuse in custody including being kicked with boots and beaten with water pipes. He was forced to sign a written undertaking not to take part in any political activities at al-Bahr al-Ahmar University. Before releasing him at 3am the following day, security agents told him that if he was detained again it would be for much longer.

On 13 May security agents visited the home of human rights defender Hassan Eltaib Yassin in Port Sudan at 8pm and 10pm but on both occasions failed to find him there. They apparently intended to arrest him because of his efforts to assist Faries Abd Alhay Mohmed Ali and other students detained following the clashes. Political violence on university campuses is a frequent occurrence in Sudan. The Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT) is particularly concerned about the targeting both of human rights defenders and of students who are politically opposed to the ruling National Congress Party in light of national elections scheduled to take place in Sudan next year. The vote, which forms a part of the timetable laid out in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the civil war in the South in 2005, should be a key milestone in the transition towards democracy.

Under the National Security Forces Act, members of the NISS have the power to arrest and detain individuals without charge for up to nine months. The same act also dictates that the director of the NISS must give his prior approval in order for any security agent to face civil or criminal proceedings. In practice, this ensures the impunity of security agents responsible for torture and other abuses in custody.

SOAT calls upon the Sudanese authorities to:
-Take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Faries Abd Alhay Mohmed Ali and Hassan Eltaib Yassin and all others detained following the clashes at al-Bahr al-Ahmar University
-Conduct impartial and transparent investigations into the abuse suffered by Faries Abd Alhay Mohmed Ali in custody, and bring to justice all suspected perpetrators, guaranteeing them fair trials according to internationally recognised standards
-Cease targeting human rights defenders and politically active students
-Expedite reforms to bring the Sudanese justice system and all legislation into line with the Interim National Constitution and international human rights standards, and to end the impunity of state officials.

The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following addresses:
His Excellency President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir,
Office of the President,
People´s Palace,
PO Box 281,
Khartoum, Sudan,

His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit,
First Vice-President,
People´s Palace,
PO Box 281,
Khartoum, Sudan, 

His Excellency Ali Osman Mohamed Taha,
Vice-President,
People´s Palace,
PO Box 281,
Khartoum, Sudan,

Mr Abdel Bassit Sabdarat,
Minister of Justice,
Ministry of Justice,
PO Box 302,
Khartoum, Sudan

Mr Deng Alor,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Relations,
PO Box 873,
Khartoum, Sudan,

Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed,
Minister of Internal Affairs,
Ministry of Interior,
PO Box 873,
Khartoum, Sudan,

Dr Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha,
Advisory Council for Human Rights, Rapporteur,
PO Box 302,
Khartoum, Sudan,
Fax: +249 183 77 08 83

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva,
Avenue Blanc 47,
1202 Geneva, Switzerland,
Tel: +41 22 731 26 63,
Fax: +41 22 731 26 56,
Email: mission.sudan@bluewin.ch / mission.sudan@ties.itu.int

The Embassy of Sudan in Brussels,
Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 124,
1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Tel.:0032 (2) 647 51 59 / 0032 (2) 647 94 94,
Fax: 0032 (2) 648 34 99,
Email: sudanbx@yahoo.com
 
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the title and date of this SOAT publication in your reply.

For more information please contact:
Sudan Organisation Against Torture
Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London
NW6 5LF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7372 2656
Email: info@soatsudan.org
Website: www.soatsudan.org