Radical Sudan Islamist group vows to punish religious, security figures

August 2, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – A radical Sudanese Islamist group calling itself the “Hamza Group for Preaching and Jihad” issued a statement on Saturday vowing to target media and religious figures, along with officers at the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

The group did not name the three NISS officers but said that they are ones who specialised in targeting Jihadist groups namely the Dandar extremist cell which was apprehended in late 2012 following a bloody clash with authorities.

These same officers also arrested the four killers of USAID employee John Granville who was assassinated in 2008 new years eve in Khartoum, the statement said.

They also pledged to implement an unspecified verdict they issued against Shiite figure al-Nayel Abu Guroon and Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal.

Furthermore, it has been decided to expedite sentences against two journalists by the name of Salah Awooda and Mohamed al-Mardi al-Tigani whom the group accused of proliferating Shiite ideology in Sudan.

The little-known group has previously claimed responsibility for an assault last month on the editor-in-chief of al-Tayar daily newspaper.

In Saturday’s statement, the group also warned authorities against chasing its members and said it would put all NISS officers on a wanted list if that happens.

(ST)