May 14
SUDAN:
Sudanese rights activist Mudawi Ibrahim facing Death Penalty
Saturday May 14th, 2005 01:03.
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SOAT
Sudan Organisation Against Torture
Human Rights Alert: 12 May 2005
On 8 May 2005, officers from the National Security and Intelligence Agency
(NSA) arrested Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Chairperson of the Sudan Social
Development Organization (SUDO), Mr. Yasir Saleem, a photographer at
SUDO's documentation unit and Mr. Abdullah Taha, Dr. Mudawi's personal
driver who is employed by LAMDA Company, which is owned by Dr. Mudawi. The
men were arrested whilst travelling from Dr. Mudawi's private company
offices in Khartoum North, to SUDO offices in Khartoum South.
Initially the detainees were taken to an unknown place. They were later
moved to a security detention centre known as 'Altanfeezi' (Executive) in
Khartoum. On 10 May 2005, the detainees were transferred into Crimes
against the State Attorney Custody, in Khartoum and placed under
investigation where Dr. Mudawi and Mr. Yasir were charged under articles
53 (Espionage against the Country), a crime which carries the death
penalty under the 1991 Sudanese Penal Code and 57 (Entering and
Photographing Military Areas and Works).
On 11 May 2005, Mr. Abdallah was released without any official charges
against him.
On 12 May 2005, the attorney general removed computers from Dr. Mudawi
private company as part of its investigation. Dr. Mudawi and Mr. Yasir
remain Attorney General Custody.
Dr. Mudawi was expected to travel to Ireland to receive an inaugural Front
Line Award from President McAleese.
BACKGROUND
Dr. Mudawi was previously arrested on 24 January 2005, in Kondoua village,
North Kordofan along with his friend Salah Mohammed Abdalrahman. Dr.
Mudawi was released after going on a hunger strike and his treatment in
Alfaisal clinic, a private hospital in central Khartoum on 12 March 2005.
Dr. Mudawi was given a letter from the Human Rights Advisory Council dated
7 March 2005 citing his release date as 3 March 2005.
Salah Mohammed Abdalrahman, who was arrested at the same time as Dr.
Mudawi, is a political activist, and a member of the Sudanese Democratic
Movement. His whereabouts were unknown until 17 March 2005 when his sister
was allowed to visit him.
Dr. Mudawi was previously arrested on 28 December 2003 after visiting
Darfur in the course of his work for SUDO. On 11 February 2004, he was
charged with crimes against the state, articles 50 (undermining the
constitutional system) and 51 (waging war against the State), crimes,
which carried the death, sentence under the 1991 Sudanese Penal Code. All
charges against him were dismissed on 7 August 2004.
SOAT condemns the continual targeting of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and calls
on the Government of Sudan to put an end to the harassment and detention
of human rights activists in Sudan and urges the Government of Sudan to:
Immediately return all properties removed from his private company;
Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological
integrity of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Mr. Yasir Saleem;
To allow them immediate and unrestricted access to their family and any
medical treatment that they may need;
Order the immediate release of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Mr. Yasir
Saleem or bring them before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural
rights at all times;
Ensure that Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Mr. Yasir Saleem has access to
legal advice;
Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including
freedom of association throughout Sudan in accordance with national laws
and international human rights standards;
SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK
in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT
information, please contact us:
Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London NW6 5LF, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0)20 7372 2656
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.soatsudan.org
