Sudanese activist denied passport renewal

July 16, 2024 (KAMPALA) – Prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Hanan Hassan Hussein, has been denied a passport renewal by the Sudanese embassy in Uganda, sparking accusations of political interference and discrimination.

The “Emergency Lawyers” group, of which Hassan is a member, condemned the denial and revealed that the Sudanese Public Prosecution was behind the decision. However, the group argued this decision contradicts both Sudanese law and international human rights standards.

“The Public Prosecution does not have the authority to deny passport issuance,” the group stated, highlighting the Passports and Immigration Law of 2015 as the governing authority for such matters.

The incident has fueled ongoing concerns about undue influence exerted by the military and executive branches on legal processes in Sudan.

The Emergency Lawyers group has accused the de facto authorities, including the army leadership, the Minister of Interior, the Director of Passports, and the Attorney General, of discriminatory practices in passport issuance based on political and ethnic grounds.

The Sudanese Congress Party echoed these sentiments, denouncing the denial as a violation of Hassan’s rights and the rule of law. They criticized the military-led government, in Port Sudan, which they deem illegitimate, for its role in the decision.

The controversy comes amidst growing international attention to human rights issues in the war-torn Sudan, particularly regarding freedom of movement and political expression.