Sudan: 24 men and 3 Children from Villages in Nyala at Risk of Hanging

During aerial bombardments on Marla village by the air forces, the armed forces arrested twenty-four men and three children from Marla, Domma, Labado and Belail villages in Nyala province, southern Darfur state, according to the Sudan Organisation Against Torture. "The men and the children were initially taken into military custody in Nyala where they were detained for 2 days. During the arrest and along the way from Douma and Marla to Nyala, the twenty-four men and three children were allegedly tortured by the armed forces. They were beaten with sticks all over their bodies, flogged on their backs and chests and kicked with military boots on both their faces and sides."

SOAT

Sudan Organisation Against Torture

Human Rights Alert: 4 January 2005

24 men and 3 Children from Villages in Nyala at Risk of Hanging

On 16-17 December 2004, during aerial bombardments on Marla village by the air forces, the armed forces arrested twenty-four men and three children from Marla, Domma, Labado and Belail villages in Nyala province, southern Darfur state. The details of the men and the children are as follows:

1. Adam Abaker Abdella, 33 Yrs, Tama, Student

2. Alsadig Ibraheam Ahmed, 24 Yrs, Zghawa, Student

3. Ali Mohamed Aldouma Adam, 22 Yrs, Shareefi, Student

4. Ibraheam Mohamed Yahya, 52 Yrs, Felata, Transport Agent

5. Abaker Yahya Omer, 33 Yrs, Fur

6. Abdel Razig Abdel Majeed, 65 Yrs, Fur

7. Fayiz Abdella Yagoyb, 22 Yrs, Fur

8. Adam Ahmed Abaker, 21 Yrs, Hawara

9. Mousa Hassan Abdella, 60 Yrs, Zaghawa, Farmer

10. Mousa Wadi Hassan, 50 Yrs, Zaghawa, Farmer

11. Abdel Hameed Neel Salim, 65 Yrs, Zaghawa

12. Ibraheem Hassan Musa, 58 Yrs, Zaghawa

13. Hassan Ibraheem Mohamed, 70 Yrs, Hawara, Farmer

14. Adam Douda Ismaeal, 52 Yrs, Zaghawa, Farmer

15. Shareif Adam Babikir, 25 Yrs, Tama, Farmer

16. Abdel Haleam Abdella Abaker, 45 Yrs, Birgid

17. Mohamed Ibraheem Tairab, 25 Yrs, Tama

18. Yasir Abdella Musa, 19 Yrs, Zaghawa

19. Tarig Dawood Jouma, 12 Yrs, Dajo,

20. Moustafa Abaker Ali, 19 Yrs, Berti

21. Ahmed Yousif Bourma, 10 Yrs, Dajo

22. Emam Ahmed Abdel Aziz, 35 Yrs , Birgid

23. Ahmed Ishag Omer, 45 Yrs, Zaghawa, Teacher

24. Musa Ibraheam Mohamed, 17 Yrs, Fur

25. Soulieman Adam Tairab, 35 Yrs, Birgid

26. Yahya Abdella Tom, 25 Yrs, Tama

27. Abdel Jebbar Shareif, 20 Yrs, Zaghawa

The men and the children were initially taken into military custody in Nyala where they were detained for 2 days. During the arrest and along the way from Douma and Marla to Nyala, the twenty-four men and three children were allegedly tortured by the armed forces. They were beaten with sticks all over their bodies, flogged on their backs and chests and kicked with military boots on both their faces and sides.

On 19 December 2004, the detainees were moved to Nyala Wasat (central) police station where they were officially charged under articles 51 (Waging War against the State), and 53 (Espionage against the country) of the 1991 Penal Code. On 20 December 2004, the 24 men and 3 children were transferred to Nyala prison where they remain in detention.

SOAT lawyers in Nyala visited the detainees in Nyala Prison and submitted an application to the Attorney General requesting medical examination of the detainees. The medical reports confirm that the men and the children were subjected to torture. The wounded detainees are receiving medical treatment from Amel Medical Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Nyala, SOAT partner organisation in Nyala.

SOAT condemns the arbitrary arrest and torture of the 24 men and condemns the arrests and torture of Tariq Dawood Joumaa, Ahmed Yousif Bourma and Musa Ibraheam Mohamed. SOAT urges the government of Sudan (GoS) to respect its obligations as party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which under article 37 states, “No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment...” Furthermore, article 37 provides that “No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily.”

SOAT urges the Government of Sudan to:

Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Tarig Dawood Joumaa, Ahmed Yousif Bourma and Musa Ibraheam Mohamed.

Order the immediate release of Tarig Dawood Joumaa, Ahmed Yousif Bourma and Musa Ibraheam Mohamed in the absence of valid legal charges, or if legitimate charges exist, bring them before an impartial tribunal and guarantee procedural rights at all times.

Investigate the arrest and the torture of all 24 men and three children and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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.

The above recommendations should be sent in appeals to the following addresses:

His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
President' s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 783223

Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 788941

Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 779383

Dr. Abdelmuneim Osman Mohamed Taha
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: + 249 183 770883

His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Mohamed Al- Hassan Ahmed Al-Haj
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva,
PO Box 335,
1211 Geneva,
Switzerland,
Fax: +4122 731 26 56,
E-mail: [email protected].

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