SOAT: Detention of Fur tribe Members from Terbo Village
SOAT
On 13 December, security forces in Nyala arrested 5 men belonging to the Fur tribe from Terbo village near Almalam, north east of Nyala. The details of the men are as follows:
– 1. Khaleel Adam, 50 yrs, tribal leader
– 2. Ali Ahmed Adam, 52 yrs, Teacher
– 3. Issa Dawood Maohamed, 40 yrs, Teacher
– 4. Abdella Ismeal Abaker, 45 yrs, Teacher
– 5. Yousif Ahmed Adam, 35 yrs, Teacher
Reportedly on 12 December, the 5 detainees were solicited by government authorities in Nyala to act as representatives on behalf of the Fur tribe to negotiate a peace settlement with local Arab tribes. The 5 men initially refused stating that they were not assigned to represent the Fur tribe. The men later agreed to seek permission from Fur tribe members and tribal leaders for them to negotiate on their behalf, at which point, the government considered the 5 men as uncooperative.
The men were ordered to attend the security office at Nyala the following day on 13 December 2004. Once they arrived the men were arrested and detained at the security offices for one day. They were moved to Nyala Wasat (central) police station where they were officially charged with articles 51 (Waging War against the State) and 58 (Abetment of Mutiny) of the 1991 Penal Code.
On 16 December, the men were transferred to Nyala prison where they remain in detention.
SOAT believes that the 5 men have been arrested and detained solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions and expresses fears for their safety. SOAT urges the government of Sudan (GoS) to respect its obligations as party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which under Article 9 states; “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.” In addition, Sudan is a state party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which under article 20 asserts that “No one may be compelled to belong to an association.”
SOAT condemns the arrest and detention the 5 men and urges the Government of Sudan to:
– Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees.
– Immediately drop all the charges against all the detainees in the absence of valid legal charges, or if legitimate charges exist, bring them before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times.
– Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.