AFR 54/014/2011

UGANDA

Almost all of the protestors arrested at the end of January during demonstrations in Khartoum have now been released. Only one individual, Adil Ibrahim Karar, remains in detention. He is severely asthmatic and has back problems.

From 30 January to 21 March, there was a wave of demonstrations in Khartoum, Omdurman and surrounding cities and towns in northern Sudan. Over 70 people were arrested, and while many detainees were released within hours, several dozen people were detained in the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Bahri office compound in North Khartoum for weeks, where they were reportedly subjected to torture or other forms of ill-treatment by the NISS. Adil Ibrahim Karar is the only activist who is still known to be detained.

On 31 January, Adil Ibrahim Karar, aged 56, was arrested by the NISS from a bookshop in Omdurman, suspected of intention to participate in the demonstrations. He has not been charged with any recognizable criminal offence and is being held by the NISS in an unknown location in Khartoum.

Adil Ibrahim Karar suffers from asthma and back problems. He has reportedly been refused medical treatment and access to pain medication. He is at risk of torture or other forms of ill-treatment.

The family of Adil Ibrahim Karar has been appealing to the Sudanese authorities for his release, but has not to date received any indication that he would be charged or released. On 27 April, Adil Ibrahim Karar’s wife and their two children, aged 13 and 18, were also arrested by the NISS and held for interrogation for nine hours before being released. Since then, they have been subjected to threats and harassment from the police and their family house was reportedly searched twice.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Arabic, English or your own language:

* Calling on the authorities to grant Adil Ibrahim Karar immediate access to his family, lawyers and to any medical treatment he might require;

* Calling on the authorities to release Adil Ibrahim Karar or charge him with recognizably criminal offences;

* Calling on the authorities to promptly and effectively investigate all allegations of torture and other serious human rights violations;

* Calling on the authorities to ensure the safety of Adil Ibrahim Karar’s wife and their two children, in accordance with their wishes, and protect them from any intimidation;

* Calling on the Sudanese government to immediately stop the harassment and intimidation of human rights activists in Sudan and to respect their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly;

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 24 JUNE 2011 TO:

Minister of Justice

Mr Mohammed Bushara Dousa

Ministry of Justice, PO Box 302

Al Nil Avenue

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: +249 183 764 168

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Interior

Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed

Ministry of Interior

PO Box 873

Khartoum, Sudan

Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:

President

HE Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir

Office of the President

People’s Palace PO Box 281

Khartoum, Sudan

Fax: +249 183 770 621

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.

SUDANS AMBASSAD

STOCKHOLMSVÄGEN 33

181 33 LIDINGÖ

FAX 08-611 77 82

E-post: sudanembassy@telia.com

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

This is the third update of UA 18/11 Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR54/005/2011/en, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR54/006/2011/en, http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR54/007/2011/en

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

On 30 January, around 2,000 people gathered in Khartoum for a peaceful demonstration. The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and riot police reportedly began searching for demonstration organizers on 29 June. Armed riot police and the NISS reportedly used batons and tear gas to break up the demonstrations. Many of those arrested were injured. Reports suggest that a student demonstrator, Mohamed Abdelrahman, died in hospital on 31 January from injuries sustained as the police dispersed the demonstrators.

Protests throughout the Middle East and North Africa began in Tunisia at the beginning of January 2011 and extended to a number of other capitals. Inspired by these protests, the demonstrators in Sudan were calling for democracy and asking for an improvement in their socio-economic conditions.

The police and the NISS in Sudan often arrest and ill-treat peaceful demonstrators, particularly when they are asking for their rights to be upheld. Student movements and organizations are regularly targeted by the NISS. Journalists suffer from harassment and various restrictions to their freedom of expression. Newspapers also continue to suffer from intermittent censorship.