Document - Sudan: Arbitrary arrest/Fear for safety/prisoner of conscience: Mohamed Ahmed Abd Al-Gadir Al-Arbab

PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 54/074/2005

21 October 2005

UA 277/05 Arbitrary arrest/Fear for safety/prisoner of conscience

SUDAN Mohamed Ahmed Abd Al-Gadir Al-Arbab (m), aged 40, lawyer

Lawyer Mohamed Ahmed Abd Al-Gadir Al-Arbab was arrested by police on 1 October, at the entrance to the Mayo Camp police station in the capital, Khartoum. Two days later he was moved to another police station in Al-Khalakla, Khartoum, where he is still believed to be held. Allegedly he has been ill-treated in custody, and is at risk of further ill-treatment. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his work in defence of human rights.

Mohamed Ahmed Abd Al-Gadir Al-Arbab is one of the lawyers representing 136 people detained in connection with clashes between police and internally displaced people housed in the Soba Aradi camp, near Khartoum, on 18 May. Many, if not all, of the 136 are detained arbitrarily, and four have reportedly died as a result of torture in custody. Mr Arbab has reportedly been charged, together with the 136 detainees, under articles 21 (complicity to execute a criminal agreement), 24 (criminal conspiracy), 50 (undermining the constitutional system), 51 (waging war against the state), 77 (public nuisance), 107 ("screening and harbouring an offender") and 130 (murder) of the 1991 Penal Code. Articles 51 and 130 carry the death penalty.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Soba Aradi camp houses people forced to flee their homes by the violence in Darfur, western Sudan, and in south Sudan. On 18 May, 14 police officers and at least 15 civilians were killed after the police apparently attempted to forcibly remove a number of internally displaced people from the camp. During the riot the police station in Soba Aradi was set on fire. The state government's policy of relocating internally displaced people around Khartoum without full consultation, often by force and without offering adequate alternatives for shelter and basic services, has been criticised by the United Nations.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:

- expressing concern for the safety of Mohamed Ahmed Abd Al-Gadir Al-Arbab, who was arrested on 1 October and has reportedly been ill-treated in police custody;

- calling for Mohamed Ahmed Alarbab to be released immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his peaceful activities in defence of human rights;

- calling on the authorities to ensure that human rights activists are not harassed or detained, and to respect their commitments to observe international human rights law.

APPEALS TO:

Mr Abdul Haleem Mutafi

Governor of Khartoum State

Khartoum State, Sudan

Fax: + 249 183 770143

Salutation: Dear Governor

Mr Salva Kiir Mayardit

First Vice-President, People's Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: + 249 183 779977

+ 249 183 780796 (Please mark, "FAO First Vice-President")

Salutation: Your Excellency

Mr Muhammad Ali al-Maradhi

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: + 249 183 780796 (Please mark, "FAO Minister of Justice")

Email: info@sudanjudiciary.org

Salutation: Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Dr Abdel Moneim Osman Taha

Rapporteur, Advisory Council for Human Rights, Khartoum, Sudan

Email: human_rights_sudan@hotmail.com

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 2 December 2005.