Detention; torture of political activist in Khartoum

June 20, 2006 — On 12 June 2006 at 12:30pm, five men allegedly working for the security forces detained Omar Altaj Al-Nageeb, (25 yrs), a recent medical graduate from Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman. Mr. Al-Nageeb was detained whilst distributing flyers in support of students suspended from the University for Non Payment of tuition fees. Mr. Al-Nageeb was taken to a Student Union room equipped with torture instruments where he was subjected to severe torture and lost consciousness of periods between 10 – 20 minutes.

The men blindfolded Mr. Al-Nageeb, tied both his feet and wrists, hanged him by the feet to a ceiling fan and attempted to insert a glass bottle into Mr. Al-Nageeb’s anus. Mr. Al-Nageeb was beaten with a metal bar, water hose and chain lock and the men pointed guns to his head whilst threatening him with death. The men also attempted to strangle Mr. Al-Nageeb using a rope and subjected his hands and facial cheeks to electric shock and forced him to sign documents obliging him to pay 1500,000 Sudanese Dinars.

During the detention, Mr. Al-Nageeb was questioned about his membership and those of other students of the communist party. The men identified themselves as members of the security forces and the men of ?Abu-Musab Al-Zarqwai’ group in Sudan. They demanded Mr. Al-Nageeb to give up his student activities and to join the security forces and work with them.

Ten hours after his detention, at 10.30pm, Mr. Al-Nageeb was driven to a farm in Al Maygome, East Nile District where his blindfold was removed. After walking for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. Al-Nageeb found reached a main road.

Mr. Al-Nageeb reported the incident to SOAT’s partner organization in Khartoum, Amel Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture where they confirmed his injuries as consistent to his account of torture and where he is currently receiving counselling.

SOAT strongly condemns the detention and torture of Omar Altaj Al-Nageeb Hassan and urge the government of Sudan to undertake an investigation into the incident and into all the students that have been arrested, tortured and detained for exercising their fundamental human rights, and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Moreover, SOAT calls on the government to immediately begin the reform of the security apparatus and to implement the Sudanese Interim Constitution which came into effect on 9 July 2005.

SOAT recalls Article 33 of the Constitution which provides that “No person shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” and urges the government to abide by this anti-torture principle as enshrined in the Constitution. In addition the Constitution guarantees the right of freedom of association. Article 40 (1) asserts that “…every person shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of his interests.”

SOAT calls on the government of Sudan to:

– Investigate the detention and torture of Omar Altaj Al-Nageeb and to bring the perpetrators before an impartial tribunal and guaranteed procedural rights at all times;
– Immediately cease its campaign of intimidation and harassment of students in Khartoum;
– To disband its various militia groups and to end impunity for crimes committed by the security forces and the various militia groupings affiliated to the government;
– Guarantee, protect and implement the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the Interim Constitution particularly ;
– Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information, please contact us:

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