European legislators condemn arrest of Sudanese human rights defender

December 19, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The European Parliament has condemned the detention of a prominent Sudanese human rights defender Amin Mekki Medani and called on the Sudanese government to release all the political detainees and guarantee public freedoms.

Medani has been arrested since the 6th of December following his return to Khartoum from Addis Ababa where he signed a political declaration ‘’Sudan call”, supporting African Union efforts for a comprehensive peace and an inclusive process for democratic reforms.

The chairman of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces, Farouk Abu Issa was also arrested on the same day for signing this text. Also Farah Agar, a former member of the ruling National Congress Party from the Blue Nile state, was arrested on 7 December for meeting the rebels in Addis Ababa.

The EU legislators “strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest and detention of Dr Medani and other peaceful activists as an unlawful breach of their peaceful and legitimate political and human rights activities; calls for their immediate and unconditional release;” said a text endorsed on 18 December.

They further urged the Sudanese government “to guarantee the peaceful exercise of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly” and to “put an end to all acts of harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders and political activists and to comply with the relevant international norms and standards”.

The lawmakers said Medani “symbolises” a strong commitment to human rights, humanitarianism and the rule of law.

The Sudanese lawyer and rights activist was awarded the EU delegation’s Heroes for Human Rights Award 2013 for his local and international efforts in promoting human rights.

Since their arrest, the three detainees have not been charged with any offence and their families ignore their whereabouts.

The Sudanese authorities ban contacts with the rebel groups saying it harm the morale of its troops which fight them in the Two Areas and Darfur region.

(ST)