Urgent Statement: Public flogging of Sudanese opposition party’ leaders, July 6, 2015 – PDF
Sudan Human Rights Network (SHRN) is deeply concerned by the verdict issued on Monday, 6 July 2015, by a Sudanese Criminal Court that resulted in the flogging of the political secretary of the Sudanese Congress Party Mr. Mastour Ahmed Mohamed and two of his party members. Mr. Mastour together with Mr. Asim Omar and Ibrahim Mohamed Zein were arrested on 28 April while addressing a crowd of people in Omdurman criticizing the policies of the government and speaking against the outcome of 2015 general election organized by the ruling party in Sudan.
Mr. Mastour and his colleagues were convicted of disturbing the public order in accordance with article 69 of Sudan Criminal Law and were immediately received 20 lashes each even before their defense lawyers had arrived.
SHRN strongly denounces the unjust sentence that violates the basic principles of the freedom of speech as stipulated by the Sudanese Constitution and contradicts with the UN and the African Union Charters of Human Rights which banned flogging as cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment.
SHRN consider this unprecedented ruling as a clear exploitation of the judiciary by the ruling party to intimidate, subjugate and silence its political opponents.
SHRN calls upon the Government of Sudan to abolish article 69 of the Criminal Law of 1991 and to review all its legislation related to flogging to conform with international covenants.
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