Sudanese security releases second group of university students

June 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese security service Tuesday released 10 students of the University of Khartoum after filing criminal complaints against them at the police.

The release of the second group of detained students came two days after freeing six students including four females who had been in jail for more than 40 days.

All of them were arrested after taking part in protests against the purported e government’s plans to move the historical building of the University of Khartoum, to Soba district, 19 km south of Khartoum to construct touristic and business facilities.

Sudan Tribune learnt that the security service handed over 8 students to Khartoum North Police station after filing criminal complaints against them.

On Sunday, the University of Khartoum said its efforts to release the students succeeded upon a meeting between the Vice Chancellor Ahmed Mohamed Suleiman and the Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta.

Also on the same Sunday, representatives of several European Union embassies and other western diplomats in Khartoum met with family members of the detained students.

The families of the students briefed the European ambassadors on the university decision to dismiss six students and suspend 11 others for their alleged role in April protests.

Also, HRW denounced the arrest without charges of the Sudanese students since last April and said they were held in secret locations without access to lawyers or contact with family, putting them at increased risk of torture.

(ST)