Racist comment by Islamist lawyers causes uproar in Sudan
April 12, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – A racist comment against the sacked TV director Lugman Ahmed by the defence team of the defendants in the trial of the June 1989 coup caused a national uproar on Tuesday, amid calls to sue these lawyers in court.
On Sunday, the head of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan sacked Lugman Ahmed from his post as director of the Radio and Television Corporation. His media advisor justified the dismissal by saying he ignored the head of the state’s news and covered anti-coup protests.
The mic of a video camera of the official news agency SUNA covering the trial broadcast a conversation between two lawyers Abu Bakr Abdel Razek and Mohammed Shawkat, members of the defence team for the leaders of the former regime in the courtroom.
The two Islamists talked about the reasons for dismissing the TV director from his position.
One of them uttered a racist expression towards Lugman Ahmed, describing him as a “slave” and mocking his big nose.
The Sudan News Agency quickly deleted the video posted on its platform.
The Darfur Lawyers Association condemned the racist comment and confirmed they are in contact with the Sudanese journalist to consult on the legal action that could be taken against them.
“This behaviour is not unusual from the members of the Islamic Front who practised the worst forms of racism and ethnic discrimination against the Sudanese people,” a member of the Association and a legal expert Abdel-Baset Alhaj in statements to the Sudan Tribune.
He added that the Sudanese criminal law does not sufficiently address issues of discrimination and racism.
But, he added that the Law on the Practice of the Legal Profession provides for the formation of an investigation committee for lawyers who have committed racist behaviour and to hold them accountable with penalties that may amount to the withdrawal of the lawyer’s license.
For its part, the Sudanese Network for Human Rights condemned the racist comment of the Islamist lawyers.
The human rights group called to immediately investigate the individuals who committed this behaviour and hold them accountable, and withdraw their licenses to practice law
In addition, the Preliminary Committee of the Journalists Syndicate declared its solidarity with Lugman Ahmed and stressed the need to take all legal measures to hold those involved in the incident accountable and bring them to trial.