Sudan human right activist released but charged with espionage

November 28, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — A Sudanese human right activist have been released after spending five days in detention, Sudan Tribune has learned.

Amnesty International (AI) confirmed the release in a press release saying that Osman Hummida was freed late Thursday.

AI said that Hummida “is not believed to have been charged, he may face charges in the coming days or weeks”.

However the pro-government Al-Rayaam reported that Hummida will stand trial accused of spying for the ICC and supplying them with documents.

The counts against Hummida, who holds British citizenship, will include sabotaging the government and espionage for ICC. If convicted the activist may face the death penalty.

It is not clear if his release signals lack of intention by the authorities to press the charges.

On Monday the Sudanese authorities detained three human right activists and interrogated them on their links with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Those arrested by Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Service also included Moniem El-Gak and Amir Suleiman.

El-Gak and Suleiman were subsequently released but Hummida remains in the custody of the security bureau and his whereabouts are unknown.

Hummida was one of the founders of Sudanese Organization against Torture (SOAT). He and El-Gak work as consultants to civil society and nongovernmental organizations. Suleiman is chairman of the Khartoum Center for Human Rights and Environmental Development (KCHRED).

Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Khartoum of stepping up harassment of human right activists and NGO’s following Darfur rebel attack on the capital last May and ICC indictment of president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

No views in support of the ICC have been allowed inside Sudan and press censorship was tightened.

(ST)