Sudan detains South Kordofan’s human rights activist

July 1, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese human rights activist working in the war-battered state of South Kordofan has been detained for a week by the country’s security apparatus, his former employers said on Friday.

The UK branch of Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) said in a statement that Bushra Gamar Hussein Rahma, the former director of its office in Nyala and the current executive director of the Human Rights and Development Organization (HUDO) in South Kordofan was detained on June 25 by agents of Sudan’s National and Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in Al-Thawra area in Sudan’s twin capital city of Omdurman.

SUDO said that the 47-year old Rahma is believed to be detained in the custody of the NISS political department.

“SUDO believes that his arrest is a result of his legitimate and peaceful activities in support of human rights,” the release said.

The organisation said it was “deeply concerned about the risk of torture” and called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of its former employee.

Local and international rights groups have been accusing the Sudanese government’s army of committing widespread abuses during its ongoing military offensive in the country’s flashpoint state of South Kordofan.

Sudanese security authorities routinely arrest and instigate legal proceedings against human rights activists.

Last year, Sudan detained human rights activist Abdel Bast Mirghani for his attempt to organise protests against the flogging of women under the country’s stringent morality law.

(ST)