24 men and 3 Children from Villages in Nyala at Risk of Hanging
SOAT
On 16-17 December 2004, during aerial bombardments on Marla village by the air forces, the armed forces arrested twenty-four men and three children from Marla, Domma, Labado and Belail villages in Nyala province, southern Darfur state. The details of the men and the children are as follows:
– 1. Adam Abaker Abdella, 33 Yrs, Tama, Student
– 2. Alsadig Ibraheam Ahmed, 24 Yrs, Zghawa, Student
– 3. Ali Mohamed Aldouma Adam, 22 Yrs, Shareefi, Student
– 4. Ibraheam Mohamed Yahya, 52 Yrs, Felata, Transport Agent
– 5. baker Yahya Omer, 33 Yrs, Fur
– 6. Abdel Razig Abdel Majeed, 65 Yrs, Fur
– 7. Fayiz Abdella Yagoyb, 22 Yrs, Fur
– 8. Adam Ahmed Abaker, 21 Yrs, Hawara
– 9. ousa Hassan Abdella, 60 Yrs, Zaghawa, Farmer
– 10. Mousa Wadi Hassan, 50 Yrs, Zaghawa, Farmer
– 11. Abdel Hameed Neel Salim, 65 Yrs, Zaghawa
– 12. Ibraheem Hassan Musa, 58 Yrs, Zaghawa
– 13. Hassan Ibraheem Mohamed, 70 Yrs, Hawara, Farmer
– 14. Adam Douda Ismaeal, 52 Yrs, Zaghawa, Farmer
– 15. Shareif Adam Babikir, 25 Yrs, Tama, Farmer
– 16. Abdel Haleam Abdella Abaker, 45 Yrs, Birgid
– 17. Mohamed Ibraheem Tairab, 25 Yrs, Tama
– 18. Yasir Abdella Musa, 19 Yrs, Zaghawa
– 19. Tarig Dawood Jouma, 12 Yrs, Dajo,
– 20. Moustafa Abaker Ali, 19 Yrs, Berti
– 21. Ahmed Yousif Bourma, 10 Yrs, Dajo
– 22. Emam Ahmed Abdel Aziz, 35 Yrs , Birgid
– 23. Ahmed Ishag Omer, 45 Yrs, Zaghawa, Teacher
– 24. Musa Ibraheam Mohamed, 17 Yrs, Fur
– 25. Soulieman Adam Tairab, 35 Yrs, Birgid
– 26. Yahya Abdella Tom, 25 Yrs, Tama
– 27. Abdel Jebbar Shareif, 20 Yrs, Zaghawa
The men and the children were initially taken into military custody in Nyala where they were detained for 2 days. During the arrest and along the way from Douma and Marla to Nyala, the twenty-four men and three children were allegedly tortured by the armed forces. They were beaten with sticks all over their bodies, flogged on their backs and chests and kicked with military boots on both their faces and sides.
On 19 December 2004, the detainees were moved to Nyala Wasat (central) police station where they were officially charged under articles 51 (Waging War against the State), and 53 (Espionage against the country) of the 1991 Penal Code. On 20 December 2004, the 24 men and 3 children were transferred to Nyala prison where they remain in detention.
SOAT lawyers in Nyala visited the detainees in Nyala Prison and submitted an application to the Attorney General requesting medical examination of the detainees. The medical reports confirm that the men and the children had been subjected torture. The wounded detainees are receiving treatment from Amel Medical Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Nyala, SOAT partner organisation in Nyala.
SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrest and torture of the 24 men and condemns the arrests and torture of Tariq Dawood Joumaa, Ahmed Yousif Bourma and Musa Ibraheam Mohamed. SOAT urges the government of Sudan (GoS) to respect its obligations as party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which under article 37 states, “No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment…” Furthermore, article 37 provides that “No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily.”
SOAT urges the Government of Sudan to:
Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Tarig Dawood Joumaa, Ahmed Yousif Bourma and Musa Ibraheam Mohamed.
Order the immediate release of Tarig Dawood Joumaa, Ahmed Yousif Bourma and Musa Ibraheam Mohamed 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.
Investigate the arrest and the torture of all 24 men and three children and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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.