Sudanese groups call for international pressure to end arbitrary detention
February 21, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese lawyers groups called for international pressure to end the arbitrary detention of pro-democracy protesters and activists and to ensure freedoms in the country.
Adama Dieng UN Expert on Human Rights in Sudan on Monday met with human rights and advocacy organisations including three lawyers groups supporting protesters and political activists detained s by the security authorities.
The Emergency Lawyer, the Committee Defence for People Affected by Unlawful Detention and Mass Killing Martyrs, and Darfur Lawyers Association briefed the UN expert about the use of excessive and unlawful lethal force to disperse anti-coup protests and the large-scale detention campaign against activists.
Some 83 people were killed by the security forces after the coup état of October 25.
The latest victim was a 10-year child killed by a security vehicle pursuing protesters in Khartoum on Monday, February 21, 2022.
The Emergency Lawyers stated they requested the UNOHCHR and the international community, through the Expert, to pressurize the coup leaders to end violence and arbitrary arrests against protests and to bring those who are detained to justice or to release them immediately
For their part, the Defence Committee and Darfur lawyers said in a joint statement that they called on the international community to place Sudan under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to protect civilians from the “killing machine and human rights violations” in Sudan.
The expert met with acting Justice Minister Mohamed Saeed al-Hilu.
The Security Council under Chapter Seven can decide to deploy troops to protect civilians against “any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression”.
The Sudanese Army Commander In Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, after the coup, declared the state of emergency.
In December 2021, he gave the security forces and agencies the power to search premises and people during the state of emergency. Also, he granted immunity from prosecution to security agents while carrying out these duties.
Release of some detainees
On Monday, the Sudanese security services released some 66 protesters who were in jail without charge.
Rights groups say over 200 activists are under detention, besides four leaders of the Forces for Freedom and Changes.
The military authorities say their detention was on a legal basis in relation to their activities as members of the Empowerment Removal Committee.
In his first tweet posted from Khartoum, Dieng said he had “very useful” meetings with “civil society and families of victims of human rights violations and constructive meetings with authorities”.
He is expected to hold a press conference at the end of his visit on February 24.
(ST)