INTERVIEW-Sudanese aid workers detained without charge
KHARTOUM, Mar 30, 2005 (Christian Aid) — Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is chairperson of Christian Aid partner, the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO), a voluntary non-governmental organisation created to promote sustainable development and human rights.
SUDO is providing emergency services in Darfur. Here he tells the story of his arrest.
What happened when you were arrested?
– On Sunday 24 January 2005, I was asleep at home. At 2am, eight men – members of Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Agency entered the house.
They were armed with Kalashnikovs and arrested me and my friend Salah Mohamed Abdelrahman, also a SUDO member.
No reason was given for our arrests.
What conditions were you detained under?
– I was held in a room where I was kept incommunicado. I was not told why I was being held. I wasn’t even allowed to make a phone call.
On February 3, I went on hunger strike. After six days, officers came to question me. They asked me why Salah Mohamed had come to my house and why I had relations with NGOs, foreigners and Christian organisations.
They didn’t have a reason for holding me. I was told I’d be freed the next day. I wasn’t.
On February 19, I went on hunger strike again, asking to be charged or released. Four days later I was hooded and transferred to a prison in Khartoum to receive a visit from my family.
I was very weak but I refused to end my hunger strike until my case had been recognised. The following day I was taken to hospital to receive intravenous treatment.
On February 26 I was taken to the office of the Attorney of Crimes against the State, where a case was filed against me for attempted suicide (hunger strike).
People from my home area went to the Attorney’s office to demand my release.
When were you released?
– I was finally released on bail on March 8.
Amnesty International considers you to be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for your peaceful activities to defend human rights in Sudan. Why do you think you were arrested and detained?
– I think because of the work we are doing in Darfur. The government doesn’t really want us to help the people there. They don’t want there to be positive action for the people.
Have other humanitarian workers been detained?
– Yes, a SUDO manager, Mr Adeep, was arrested and has been detained since September 2004 without charge.
How is your health now?
– I am fine now. I spent two weeks in hospital and I have regained 5kg of the 10kg I lost.
What did you think about during your detention?
– I remembered all the people at home and all the different organisations I work with who support me.
Have you been charged?
– No. I suspect they will drop the charges of attempted suicide.
What motivates you?
– My work: we deliver services to people in need.
Christian Aid is supporting SUDO in their call on the Sudanese government to:
– ensure that Salah Mohamed Abdelrahman is given immediate and regular access to his relatives and lawyers
– give him access to a doctor who knows his medical past
– give assurances that he will not be ill-treated while in detention
– promptly inform him and his family of the reasons for his arrest – if he is not charged with a criminal offence he should be released immediately.