PUBLICAI Index: AFR 54/019/2001

8 November 2001

Further information on UA 279/01 (AFR 54/016/2001, 2 November 2001) - Fear of torture or ill-treatment/ Detention without charge/ Possible prisoners of conscience

SUDANAdil Mohamed (m)

Mohamed al Hassan Ibrahim (m) (names corrected)

New names:Omar Sidahmed (m), lawyer

Jalal Mohamed al Said (m), lawyer

Bakri Gibreil (m), lawyer

Yousef Hussein (m), Communist Party member

Abbas Mohamed al Tahir (m), Communist Party member

Nasr Aldeen Yousef (m), lawyer

Haydar Abdelrahman (m), lawyer

Mohamed al Hassan Ibrahim was released from the Security Service office near Farouk Cemetery, North Khartoum, apparently on 2 November. He was told to report back there at 8am the following day and stay until 9pm, together with the lawyers and Communist Party members named above. Omar Sidahmed arrived late: as a punishment he was taken to a cell and beaten with hoses and knotted wire.

The others were made to stand outside in direct sunlight for two hours, which is a common form of ill-treatment in Sudan. Even in November, it is still very hot. None of them were questioned or told why they had been arrested.

The whole group have been made to report to the Security Service every day since. The Security Service use this as an alternative to detention to disrupt the lives of political opponents, making them report daily to a Security Service office and stay there doing nothing. All are at risk of further torture and ill-treatment while this continues.

Omar Sidahmed complained to the Director of the Security Service about the torture and ill-treatment he and the others had suffered. Twenty lawyers from the Sudanese Human Rights Group sent a protest to the Advisory Council for Human Rights on 4 November and another to the Constitutional Court on 5 November.

Adil Mohamed has had no contact with the outside world since 31 October, when he was arrested and taken to the Security Service office near Farouk cemetery. There are unconfirmed reports that he has been transferred to Kober prison in Khartoum, where most political prisoners are kept.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Arabic or your own language:

- expressing concern that Security Service officers tortured Omar Sidahmed and ill-treated the other lawyers and Communist Party members asked to report with him;

- seeking assurances that none of them will be tortured or ill-treated again;

- urging the authorities to immediately suspend the five security officers reported to have tortured Omar Sidahmed, to bring them to justice without delay and to punish them in accordance with international standards;

- urging the authorities to reveal the whereabouts of Adil Mahmoud and to give him immediate access to his family, lawyers and any medical assistance he may need;

- calling for him to be released immediately and unconditionally, as Amnesty International believes he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for peacefully expressing his political beliefs;

- calling for the security forces to stop making lawyers and political opponents report to them daily, as this constitutes harassment and a restriction of their fundamental right to freedom of movement.

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir

President of the Republic of Sudan

President’ s Palace

PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: + 24911 771651/ 787676 / 783223

Telegrams: President al-Bashir, Khartoum, Sudan

Salutation:Your Excellency

Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin

Minister of Justice and Attorney General

Ministry of Justice

Khartoum, Sudan

Telegrams: Justice Minister, Khartoum, Sudan

Salutation:Dear Minister

Fax: +24911 788941 / 774842/ 774906

Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: +24911 779383

Telegrams: Foreign Minister, Khartoum, Sudan

Salutation:Dear Minister

Dr Ahmed al-Mufti

Advisory Council for Human Rights

PO Box 302

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: +24911 779173

COPIES TO:

Mr Hafez al-Sheikh al-Zaki

Chief Justice, Supreme Court

Khartoum, Sudan

and to diplomatic representatives of Sudan accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 19 December 2001.