Document - Sudan: Torture / incommunicado detention / detention without charge.
PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 54/005/2003
21 February 2003
UA 52/03 Torture / incommunicado detention / detention without charge
SUDAN Adam Abdel al-Rahman Abdel al-Shafe’ (m), aged 50
Adam Abdel al-Rusul Adam (m), aged 52, farmer
Al-Omda al-Tijani Sayf al-Din (m), aged 55
Al-Omda Abdelallah ‘Ali Harun (m), aged 54, farmer
Abdel al-Qader ‘Issa Abdel al-Qader (m)
Shogar Tur Shogar (m), aged 30, student
Abdel al-Karim (m), aged 40, merchant (last name not known)
Mohammad Abdel al-Jabbar Kundi (m), aged 27, student
Abdel al-Naser Isma’il (m), aged 35, teacher
Al-Sadeq Musa Al-Dum (m), aged 25, student
Abdelallah (last name unknown) (m), aged 25, shepherd
Da’ud Shurum (m) aged 35, farmer
Mohammad Hamed Abdel al-Mulla (m), aged 41, teacher
The 13 individuals named above, all from the Fur
ethnic group, were detained at the end of January by the
authorities in different villages in the Darfur region, western
Sudan. Some of the detainees have reportedly been tortured, and all
13 continue to be at risk of torture. They are currently being held
incommunicado without charge.
According to reports, they were first taken to a detention centre in the town of Nyertetei and then transferred to another detention centre in the town of Zalingei. It is alleged that they are now detained in the town of Geneina, the capital of western Darfur. The reason for their detention is unknown.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Fur ethnic group are mainly from the Darfur region. Over the past few years hundreds of civilians, mostly from agricultural ethnic groups like the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa, have been killed or wounded, homes have been burnt and herds looted by nomadic groups. Sometimes dozens of civilians have been killed in a single raid. In one such incident on 1 January 2003, the village of Singita, 14 km south of Kas was attacked by armed horsemen. About 25 people are reported to have been killed, 10 of whom were subsequently thrown into fire by the attackers. In response to these clashes the government has often detained community leaders incommunicado without charge or trial. Amnesty International has called for a Commission on Inquiry into the deteriorating situation in Darfur.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Arabic or your own language:
- expressing grave concern at the incommunicado detention of the 13 detainees arrested in Darfur at the end of January and at reports that some of them have been of tortured;
- calling on the authorities to immediately confirm the whereabouts of the detainees and to give assurances that they will not be tortured or ill treated;
- calling for a full investigation into allegations of torture of some of the detainees;
- calling on the authorities to abide by its commitments under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and either charge the detainees with a recognizably criminal offence and give them a prompt and fair trial in accordance with international standards or set them free immediately;
- urging the authorities to allow the detainees immediate and unrestricted access to their relatives, legal counsel and any medical aid they may need.
APPEALS TO:
Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegrams: Justice Minister, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 11 799031
Salutation: Dear Minister
Major General Abdul-Rahim Muhammed Hussein
Minister of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Interior
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegram: Minister of Internal Affairs, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 11 774339 / 776554/ 773046 / 770186 / 777900 / 773046 / 770186
Salutation: Dear Minister
Ustaz Abul-Basit Sabdarat
President=s Adviser on Legal and Political Affairs
Office of the President
People=s Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegram: President=s Adviser on Legal and Political Affairs, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 11 771 651 / 787676 / 7832332 /
Salutation: Dear Sir
Engineer Umar Harun Abdullah
Governor of Western Darfur State
c/o People's Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegram: Governor of Western Darfur State, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 11 771 651 / 787676 / 7832332
Salutation: Dear Sir
Director of Prisons
Ministry of the Interior
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Telegram: Director of Prisons, Ministry of the Interior, Khartoum, Sudan
Salutation: Dear Sir
COPIES TO:
Dr Yasir Sid Ahmed
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 11 779173 / 770883
and to diplomatic representatives of Sudan accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 4 April 2003.