Sudan continues to harass & detain opposition figures, rights watchdogs say

August 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services’s (NISS) crackdown on opposition members continued unabated with dozens of arrests since early August, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) said today.

“Sudan’s national security officials are abusing people just for expressing their political views,” said Daniel Bekele, HRW Africa director. “The government should put an end to these tactics, rein in the national security service, and uphold free speech and assembly.”

“Several of those detained told Human Rights Watch and the ACJPS that they were subjected to violence and other abuse, including severe beatings by heavily armed National Intelligence and Security Service personnel. Most were released after being interrogated for several hours overnight, but were required to report back daily to the security service for further interrogations”.

The statement noted that the bulk of those affected are from the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP).

This month, SCoP said they filed a complaint with the Political Parties Affairs Council (PPAC) urging them to interfere to preserve rights of the party members. The legal department at the PPAC told them that they would consider the complaint and respond to it in September.

NISS enjoys wide-ranging powers of arrest, detention, search and seizure under the country’s 2010 National Security Act.

The SCoP is unique among opposition parties as it continues to hold speeches in public areas such as the markets and gathering places to urge the citizens to resist the government policies.

“The continuous arrests and harassment underscore an urgent need to reform Sudan’s draconian security service in line with international norms,” said Katherine Perks, ACJPS Programme Director. “Sudan should immediately stop the abuses, reform the security service, and hold abusive officers to account for these actions”

(ST)