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Sudan Tribune

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Sudanese student charged with murder for killing police officer

May 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) said a member of its student organization at the University of Khartoum (UofK) was charged with premeditated murder for allegedly being involved in the killing of a police officer during recent protests.

Students throw stones during a confrontation with the antiriot policemen in the University Street as they protest over government plan to transfer the premises of the University of Khartoum outside the capital, on Wednesday  April 13, 2016.
Students throw stones during a confrontation with the antiriot policemen in the University Street as they protest over government plan to transfer the premises of the University of Khartoum outside the capital, on Wednesday April 13, 2016.

Massive demonstrations erupted at the UofK following press statements made by several officials about government intentions to transfer the university from its location and to lease out its former premises for tourism purposes.

Dozens of students were arrested and others wounded in the protests following the intervention of the police with tear gas and rubber bullets several times.

Last Tuesday, UofK Vice Chancellor decided to shut down the university indefinitely and ordered dismissal of 17 students for involvement in the protests.

In a press statement on Sunday, the SCoP legal sector said it received information that the member of its student organization at the UofK Asim Omer has been transferred to the police office in north Khartoum.

According to the statement, the prosecution office laid premeditated murder charges against Omer under article (130) of the Criminal Code and prevented his lawyers from meeting him.

It pointed out that the defence team has not been officially notified of the reasons for his arrest and the merits of the charge against him as well as the place and circumstances of detention.

Omer was detained by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) agents who stormed the office of prominent lawyer Nabeel Adib Abdallah last Thursday.

Several students including Omer went to Abdallah’s office to hire him to challenge the dismissal decision by the UofK Vice Chancellor however the NISS agents broke into the office and took the students to unknown location.

The SCoP legal sector expressed deep concern over the physical and psychological safety of the detainees and in particular Omer.

It added that the authorities have been moving Omer between the detention centers of the NISS and the police besides the prosecution offices without allowing him to meet his family or lawyer.

“This raises concern about him being subjected to torture or pressures because the behavior of the [authorities] isn’t reassuring that he faces normal criminal conditions”, the statement read.

The statement called on human rights defenders to seek to release the detainees and cancel the dismissal decision against the 17 students besides ensuring their safety.

(ST)

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