Sudan’s NCF expresses concern over treatment of political detainees
December 18, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF), has expressed deep concern and profound sorrow for the physical torture and cruel treatment faced by political detainees and called for bringing them to fair trials or secure their immediate release.
The NCF chairman, Faroug Abu Issa, said on Wednesday that cruel treatment in jails is a clear fact that doesn’t need proof and described it as a calamity which requires accountability, pointing that demonstrators who were detained during recent protests are facing tragic and miserable conditions.
More than 800 people were detained by the police and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) after anti-government protests erupted across Sudan in late September over the decision to cut fuel subsidies.
Many detainees were released within a few hours or days, but human rights groups estimate that few remain in NISS detention without charge because of their presumed political opinions.
Abu Issa demanded immediate release for all detainees, affirming that freedom is a right guaranteed by law and constitution.
The opposition National Umma Party (NUP) leading figure, Ayoub Mohamed Abas, for his part, called for releasing political detainees who are awaiting trials for their participation in the recent protests.
He disclosed that young children are being prosecuted for joining the recent protests and considered it a political move which lacks basic elements of justice and human rights, pointing to the physical and psychological suffering of the detainees and their families.
Abas further underscored that those trials contradict with the recent measures for change and reform announced by president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
He demanded the presidency to release detainees, allow public freedoms, and create an environment conducive for achieving comprehensive political solution in order to achieve national consensus , just peace, and democratic transformation.
(ST)