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UA 119/10, UPDATE 2, AI Index: AFR 54/023/2010 of 2 July 2010
The original action was AFR 54/017/2010 of 18 May 2010.
Sudan: Journalists on trial, risk of death penalty
Four journalists from a Sudanese newspaper affiliated to the opposition party are currently facing trial. If they are found guilty, they could be sentenced to death.
Abuzar Al Amin, editor in chief, Ashraf Abdelaziz, deputy editor, Al Tahir Abu Jawhara, head of the news desk, and Ramadan Mahjoub, editor, of Rai Al Shaab newspaper are currently standing trial for charges including undermining the constitutional system, terrorism and espionage against the state. Some of these charges are punishable by death in Sudan.
On 16 June, the lawyers for the four men withdrew from the case, with their clients consent, in protest against the prosecution and judges' refusal to accept four of the witnesses that the defence team had brought forward.
A new defence team was formed. The sessions resumed at the end of June and are still ongoing.
Abuzar Al Amin and Ashraf Abdelaziz were arrested on 15 May, Al Tahir Abu Jawhara was arrested on 16 May and Ramadan Mahjoub was arrested on 27 May. Amnesty International has received reports that Abuzar Al Amin and Al Tahir Abu were tortured following their arrest.
PLEASE WRITE TO:
* Call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the imprisoned journalists, who are detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.
* Ask them to open an independent and impartial investigation into all allegations of torture and bring the perpetrators to justice.
DIRECT YOUR MESSAGES TO:
HE President Omar Al Bashir
Office of the President
People's Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 011 249 183 774 339
Salutation: Your Excellency
Mohamed Bushara Dousa
Ministry of Justice
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 011 249 183 770 883
E-mail: moj@moj.gov.sd
Salutation: Dear Minister
AND COPIES TO:
Mr Elsadig Mustafa Osman Almagly
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Sudan
354 Stewart Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8
Fax: (613) 235-6880
E-mail: sudanembassy-canada@rogers.com
Rapporteur of the Advisory Council:
Dr Abdelmoneim Osman Mohamed Taha
Advisory Council on Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Between 15 and 27 May, six staff members of Rai Al Shaab newspaper were arrested. When staff arrived for work on 16 May, the Rai Al Shaab office was closed and guarded by NISS agents. Amnesty International considers the staff arrested to be prisoners of conscience, held for expressing their beliefs. Abu Baker Al Sammani, the newspaper's printer was reportedly released a few days after his arrest. Nagi Dahab, the newspaper's administrator was released on 2 June.
The arrest of the Rai Al Shaab staff immediately followed the arrest of Hassan Al Turabi, leader of the opposition Popular Congress Party, Hassan Al Turabi, was released without charge on 30 June.
The closure of Rai Al Shaab was followed by a resurgence of censorship by National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). This includes pre-print censorship, where NISS agents visit newspapers and remove articles considered sensitive or threatening to the state or where agents visit printing houses and prevent papers from going to print. The NISS also performs 'remote control' censorship, where NISS agents inform editors of banned subjects and expect them not to print articles on these issues. Several papers have been prevented from going to press as a result, including Al Midan and Ajras Al Hurriya.
Urgent Action Office Amnesty International Canada
1992 Yonge St, 3rd floor Toronto, Ontario M4S 1Z7
Tel. (416) 363 9933 ext. 325
Fax (416) 363 3103
www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction
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ORIGINAL APPEAL
UA 119/10
AI Index: AFR 54/017/2010 of 18 May 2010
SUDAN: POLITICIAN AND SUPPORTERS HELD
Four employees of a newspaper affiliated to a Sudanese opposition party are detained incommunicado at unknown locations and are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Amnesty International believes that the detainees, all of whom are men, are prisoners of conscience, held for expressing their opinions.
On 15 May, four employees of the national Rai Al Shaab newspaper: Ashraf Abdelaziz, the newspaper's editor, Abuzar Al Amin, Deputy Editor in Chief, printer Abu Baker Al Sammani, and administrator Nagi Dahab, were arrested in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). These arrests followed the arrest of Hassan Al Turabi, leader of the opposition Popular Congress Party. While Hassan Al Turabi has been reportedly transferred to Kober prison, it is not known where the other detainees are being held.
The office of Rai Al Shaab, which supports the Popular Congress Party, was also raided by the NISS. On the morning of 16 May, employees found NISS officers had closed the office and were standing guard outside it.
There have been a number of incidents in recent months where journalists, activists and others who speak out against the Sudanese government have been detained by the NISS.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Arabic or your own language.
* Call for Ashraf Abdelaziz, Abuzar Al Amin, Abu Baker Al Sammani, Nagi Dahab and Hassan Al Turabi to be immediately and unconditionally released.
* Urge the authorities to reveal the whereabouts of those detained, and grant them immediate access to their families, lawyers, and any medical treatment they may require.
* Call for the 2010 National Security Act to be reformed to remove the excessive powers of the NISS, such as arrest and detention without judicial oversight, and search and seizure.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO:
HE President Omar Al Bashir
Office of the President
People's Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 011 249 183 774 339
Salutation: Your Excellency
Mohamed Atta Al-Moula Abbas
Director of the NISS
NISS Headquarters
Khartoum, Sudan
Salutation: Dear Director Abbas
AND COPIES TO:
Mr Asim Mohamed Ali Mukhtar Ibrahim
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Sudan
354 Stewart Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8
Fax: (613) 235-6880
E-mail: sudanembassy-canada@rogers.com
Dr Priscilla Joseph
Chair of the Human Rights Committee
National Assembly
Omdurman, Sudan
Fax: 011 249 187 560 980
Salutation: Dear Dr Joseph
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Through the 2010 National Security Act, which came into force in February, the NISS retains extensive powers of arrest, detention, search and seizure. Detainees can be held for up to four and a half months without judicial review and NISS agents have immunity for any human rights violations carried out as part of their work. Amnesty International has documented numerous cases where the powers of the NISS have been used to arbitrarily detain, torture and otherwise ill-treat student activists, human rights defenders and journalists.
Urgent Action Office Amnesty International Canada
1992 Yonge St, 3rd floor Toronto, Ontario M4S 1Z7
Tel. (416) 363 9933 ext. 325
Fax (416) 363 3103
www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction
UA 119/10, UPDATE 1, AI Index: AFR 54/019/2010 of 26 May 2010
The original action was AFR 54/017/2010 of 18 May 2010.
SUDAN: DETAINED SUDANESE JOURNALISTS TORTURED
Abuzar Al Amin and Al Tahir Abu Jawhara, who work for the Sudanese newspaper, Rai Al Shaab, have been tortured by National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) agents after they were arrested with three other colleagues on 15 and 16 May.
Abuzar Al Amin, the Deputy Editor in Chief of Rai Al Shaab newspaper, was arrested on 15 May with three of his colleagues, Ashraf Abdelaziz, the newspaper's editor, printer Abu Baker Al Sammani, and administrator Nagi Dahab. Al Tahir Abu Jawhara, head of the political news desk of Rai Al Shaab was arrested separately on 16 May.
On 19 May, the men were transferred to the "Crimes against the State" Prosecution offices in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Abuzar Al Amin's family visited him there for the first time on 20 May. He had been tortured while held in incommunicado detention following his arrest. He was covered in bruises and complained of back pain, blood in his urine and insomnia. He is in need of urgent specialized medical attention.
Al Tahir Abu Jawhara has also reportedly been tortured. Abu Baker Al Sammani has since been released by the NISS.
The arrest of the Rai Al Shaab staff immediately followed the arrest of Hassan Al Turabi, leader of the opposition Popular Congress Party. The office of Rai Al Shaab, which supports the Popular Congress Party, was raided by NISS agents. When employees arrived for work on 16 May, the offices were closed and guarded by NISS agents.
Abuzar al Amin has been charged with several criminal offences, including undermining the Constitutional system, espionage against the State, and publication of false news. Some of these charges are punishable by the death penalty in Sudan. Abuzar al Amin was interrogated only about his work as a journalist. Amnesty International believes that he is being held and charged solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
PLEASE WRITE AGAIN, if possible. Using your own words, call for
* an investigation into the allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of Abuzar Al Amin and Al Tahir Abu Jawhara and urging the authorities to hold those responsible accountable;
* the authorities to provide immediate and specialized medical attention to the two men, and to allow a medical examination of Ashraf Abdelaziz and Nagi Dahab to record reports of torture if it has occurred;
* for the men who remain detained to be immediately and unconditionally released;
* for the 2010 National Security Act to be reformed to remove the excessive powers of the NISS, including powers of search, seizure, arrest and detention without judicial oversight for four and a half months.
APPEALS TO:
HE President Omar Al Bashir
Office of the President
People's Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 011 249 183 774 339
Salutation: Your Excellency
Mohamed Atta Al-Moula Abbas
Director of the NISS
NISS Headquarters
Khartoum, Sudan
Salutation: Dear Director Abbas
COPIES TO:
Mr Asim Mohamed Ali Mukhtar Ibrahim
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Sudan
354 Stewart Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8
Fax: (613) 235-6880
E-mail: sudanembassy-canada@rogers.com
Dr Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Through Sudan's 2010 National Security Act, which came into force in February, the NISS retains extensive powers of arrest, detention, search and seizure. Detainees can be held for up to four and a half months without judicial review and NISS agents have immunity for any human rights violations carried out as part of their work. Amnesty International has documented numerous cases where the powers of the NISS have been used to arbitrarily detain, torture and otherwise ill-treat student activists, human rights defenders and journalists.
The arrests of the Rai Al Shaab staff follows on from a number of incidents in recent months where journalists, activists, and others who speak out against the Sudanese government have been detained by the NISS.
Urgent Action Office Amnesty International Canada
1992 Yonge St, 3rd floor Toronto, Ontario M4S 1Z7
Tel. (416) 363 9933 ext. 325
Fax (416) 363 3103
www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s) and not do necessarily reflect the views of the AfricaFiles' editors and network members. They are included in our material as a reflection of a diversity of views and a variety of issues. Material written specifically for AfricaFiles may be edited for length, clarity or inaccuracies.
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