Sudanese opposition figure briefly detained over ICC support
December 28, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese security service arrested briefly and then released the deputy chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Ali Mahmoud Hassanein for his support to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which investigated war crimes in Darfur.
Hassanein is known for his position in favor of the ICC. He said publicly that Sudan has to cooperate with the ICC because the Darfur Peace Agreement signed on May 5, 2006 with the former rebel group SLM-MM provides that Sudan must accept all the UN Security Council resolutions. The referral of Darfur crimes to the ICC had been decided by the UN resolution 1593 on March 31, 2005.
The ICC is expected to issue an arrest warrant for the Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir on ten charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes filed by the prosecutor last July.
The Sudanese Media Centre (SMC), a news service sponsored by the security and intelligence services, said Hassanein had been apprehended after “negative remarks he made supporting the ICC allegations against the President of the Republic.”
The pro-regime media further said that Hassanein’s remarks come after he had consulted and coordinated with a senior official in one of the Western embassies known for their hostility to the country.
Hassanein, aged 74 years, is a lawyer and a vocal critic of the government. He has spoken against restrictions on press freedoms and security abuses. He was also detained last July on charges of attempting to overthrow the government.
The rebel Justice and Equality Movement today condemned the arrest, saying “this reckless move—made in the midst of the hysteria the regime is experiencing due to the expected ICC decision—is only a prelude to mass arrests” in the country.
By the end of November three human right activists — Osman Humaida, Moniem El-Gak and Amir Suleiman – had been detained and interrogated on their links with the ICC. After their release they spoke about bad treatment and torture by the security service.
(ST)