URGENT ACTION CHILDREN DETAINED, TORTURED, AFTER PROTEST
UA: 130/11 Index: AFR 54/013/2011 Sudan Date: 9 May 2011URGENT ACTIONCHILDREN DETAINED, TORTURED, AFTER PROTESTThree children and three adults have been detained incommunicado in a prison in Sudan’s NorthDarfur state since a peaceful demonstration on 28 April. They have reportedly been tortured orotherwise ill-treated.The six were arrested by police and the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), shortly after peacefuldemonstrations in Al Salaam and Abu Shouk camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Darfur. They weredemonstrating against proposed new modalities of food distribution in IDP camps. They were taken to the NISSoffices in North Darfur’s state capital, El Fasher.Three others who had been arrested with them were released after interrogation by the NISS. The six were latertransferred to Shalla prison, in El Fasher, where they were charged under the 1991 Sudanese Criminal Code withoffences including “rioting” and “disturbance of public order.”The three children are secondary-school students Osman Adam Yagoub, aged 17 and Abdul Razig Issa Adam Idriss,aged 14; and 16-year-old Izz Eldin Mohamed Bokra. The adults are Farah Eldin Adam Ishag, aged 24, and AbeidTibin Diya Elnour, aged 35.
Ilhamm Yousuf Mohamed Abdul Majid, aged 18, was transferred to Shalla Women’sPrison in El Fasher.At least four individuals, including the three children, were reportedly tortured or otherwise ill-treated by the NISS.They are at risk of further torture or other ill-treatment. The authorities have refused contact with their families orlawyers.PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Arabic, English or your own language: Calling on the authorities to ensure immediately that the six people (naming them) have access to their families,lawyers and any medical treatment they may require and ensure the children are moved to a facility segregated fromadults which can provide them with treatment appropriate to their age and legal status; Urging them to ensure that the six people are released immediately and unconditionally; Calling on the authorities to ensure that the six people are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated and investigate thereports of torture and prosecute those responsible; Calling on the authorities to put an immediate stop to the harassment and intimidation of activists in Sudan andto respect their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 JUNE 2011 TO:Minister of JusticeMr Mohammed Bushara DousaMinistry of Justice, PO Box 302Al Nil AvenueKhartoum, SudanFax: +249 183 764 168Salutation: Your ExcellencyMinister of InteriorMr Ibrahim Mohamed HamedMinistry of InteriorPO Box 873Khartoum, SudanSalutation: Your ExcellencyAnd copies to:PresidentHE Omar Hassan Ahmad Al BashirOffice of the PresidentPeople’s Palace PO Box 281Khartoum, SudanFax: +249 183 782 541Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the abovedate.Date: 9 May 2011URGENT ACTIONCHILDREN DETAINED, TORTURED, AFTER PROTESTADDITIONAL INFORMATIONThe situation in Darfur has deteriorated since February 2010, during the second round of preparations for the peacenegotiations in Doha, Qatar. Fighting further intensified in December 2010, after the Sudanese government severedties with the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi faction (SLA/MM), who signed the Darfur Peace Agreement in2006. Attacks were carried out by government forces in Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps and in townsincluding Dar el Salam, Shangil Tobaya and Khor Abeche.According to UN estimates, around 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.7 million displaced since2003 as a result of the Darfur conflict. The conflict has been marked by large-scale violations of internationalhuman rights and humanitarian law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.The practice of arbitrary arrest and detention of Darfuris by law enforcement agencies such as the NationalIntelligence and Security Service has been rife in Darfur. Amnesty International has documented cases of prolongeddetention without trial of Darfuris. Detainees have been subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment, andunfair trials.On 20 April, around 100 people were arrested following student-led demonstrations at Nyala University, in Nyala,the capital of South Darfur. Students and activists were demonstrating against poor living conditions and insecurityin Darfur, as well as accountability for human rights violations committed in Darfur. Five students remain indetention and have reportedly been subjected to torture or other forms of ill-treatment.The NISS maintain broad powers of arrest and detention under the 2010 National Security Act. National securityofficials often use their powers to arbitrarily arrest and detain individuals, and to subject them to torture and otherforms of ill-treatment. Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of torture or other ill-treatment by theNISS.UA: 130/11 Index: AFR 54/013/2011 Issue Date: 9 May 2011