Court renews detention of Sudanese opposition leaders for further two weeks
February 2, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A criminal court in Khartoum has ordered that the detention of opposition leader Farouk Abu Issa and prominent Human rights activist Amin Mekki Mandi be extended for a further two weeks.
Abu Issa who chairs the opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF) and Madani who heads the Alliance of the Sudanese Civil Society Organisations have been detained since 6 December after the signing of the “Sudan Call” with the rebel umbrella, Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the opposition National Umma Party in Addis Ababa on 3 December.
The spokesperson for the defence team, al-Muiz Hadra, said the head of the defence team, Omer Abdel-Atti, objected to Monday’s court order against his clients, particularly as they acknowledge signing of the “Sudan Call” and there is no need for the verification of signature as requested by the prosecution.
“However the judge ordered their detention to be renewed for two weeks and demanded the prosecution to complete its investigations within this period,” he said.
Hadra added that Abu Issa and Madani appeared before the court on Monday for the first time, saying the judge based his decision to renew their detention on a request made by the prosecution that some other defendants are not physically present in the country.
He said the other defendants are the deputy-chairman of the SRF Minni Minnawi, and the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) al-Sadiq al Mahdi,
pointing to media reports which surfaced last week that the government is in the process of requesting Interpol issue red notices for the two men.
Sudan Tribune recalls that Minnawi and al-Mahdi were among the signatories of the “Sudan Call” charter.
Hadra further pointed to the inconsistency in the position of the official authorities, saying that Abu Issa and Madani have not denied signing of the “Sudan Call” which requires proceeding with the trial without having to wait for the other defendants.
On Sunday, Sudan’s justice minister, Mohamed Bushara Dousa, refused to dismiss charges filed against Abu Issa and Mandi and referred their case to the relevant court.
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)