Sudanese justice minister refers case of detained opposition leaders to court
February 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s justice minister, Mohamed Bushara Dousa, has refused to dismiss charges filed against the opposition leader Farouk Abu Issa and prominent human rights activist Amin Mekki Madani and referred their case to court.
The security service also detained a former ruling National Congress Party (NCP) member from the Blue Nile state, Farah Agar, and his office manager, Mohamed Eldoud for meeting with the rebel groups on the sidelines of peace talks in Addis Ababa.
Last week, the national dialogue committee known as 7+7 said that president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has agreed in principle to the committee’s initiative for the release of the four detainees.
However, Dousa on Sunday rejected the request submitted by the head of Abu Issa and Madani defence team, Omer Abdel-Aati, demanding dismissal of charges.
According to the official news agency SUNA, Dousa decided to refer the case to the relevant court due to existence of prima facie evidence.
Abdel-Aati, who met with Dousa last week, said he told the minister that the defence team sees no legal basis for the arrest of the opposition leaders and demands them be put to trial or released immediately.
Earlier this month the Bar Association submitted a request to president Bashir through the justice minister demanding the release of Abu Issa and Madani because of their age, health condition and good faith.
Last week, the justice minister said the Bar Associations’ memo is still under consideration, adding he will soon make a decision regarding it.
Dousa underscored that his ministry is concerned with the legal aspects not the political positions, pointing that charges filed against Abu Issa and Madani were of criminal nature and are based on legal evidence.
The “Sudan Call” is the first political declaration signed by all the opposition parties, rebel and civil society groups calling for the end of war, dismantlement of the one-party state, achievement of a comprehensive peace and democratic transition in the country.
It comes in support to the agreement on the national dialogue and constitutional process signed between the SRF rebels and the African Union mediation team headed by Thabo Mbeki last September.
The Sudanese president accused signatories of the “Sudan Call” of being agents to foreign powers and warned them from returning to the country.
Bashir bans any contact with the rebels saying it undermines the morale of the army and government forces who fight them in Darfur region, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.
(ST)
