Sudan(Further information):
SUDANESE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED

POC SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON

On 22 December, Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, a human rights defender and former director of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), was sentenced to a year in prison without a full trial. He is a prisoner of conscience, held solely in relation to his human rights work.

Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was called to appear in court in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, on the morning of 22 December in relation to embezzlement charges that had previously been brought against him by the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), a governmental body in charge of coordinating humanitarian efforts in Sudan. The charges followed a series of audits in 2008 and 2009 that did not show any unlawful activity by Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam.

Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam’s last court appearance in relation to his case was in March 2009, immediately after SUDO, amongst other national and international organizations, was closed by the HAC. During his last court appearance, Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was acquitted by the judge for lack of evidence. The HAC appealed against the court’s decision and Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was informed that the first instance judge would be reviewing his case on 22 December.

On the morning of 22 December, although reportedly no further evidence was submitted to court and despite the absence of a full trial, the same judge convicted Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam of financial mismanagement and sentenced him to one year of imprisonment and a fine of 3000 Sudanese pounds (USD 1250). Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was immediately taken to Kober prison and transferred on 23 December to Soba prison.

Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was arrested on three previous occasions between 2003 and 2005 in relation to his human rights work, and kept for periods in solitary confinement without access to a lawyer and his family. Following his initial arrest on 28 December 2003, he went on hunger strike demanding to be released or charged. He is the winner of a 2005 Human Rights First award and Front Line award in relation to his human rights work in Sudan.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SUDO is an organization that was promoting human rights and social development and was one of the NGOs closed down by HAC following the arrest warrant against President Al Bashir, when the government closed down three national humanitarian and human rights organizations and expelled 13 international humanitarian organizations. SUDO filed an appeal against its closure by the HAC commissioner. On 21 April 2010, SUDO won the appeal on the grounds that the HAC commissioner had no authority to dissolve SUDO. The organization has not however resumed its activities.

Human rights defenders, civil society activists, journalists and members of the opposition continue to be targeted by the security forces in Sudan in relation to their work. A large number of human rights defenders were forced to flee the country following the arrest warrant against President Al Bashir, while those who remain have been silenced and prosecuted in relation to their work.

Four journalists were prosecuted in 2010 in relation to their work which was seen as critical of the government, and 13 individuals, including activists, journalists and a lawyer remain in detention since 30 October in relation to their work.

The Humanitarian Aid Commission limits the work of human rights and humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, and were responsible for closing down a number of organizations and expelling their staff members.

UA: 266/10 Index: AFR 54/040/2010 Issue Date: 23 December 2010

Take action

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Arabic or your own language:
-- Calling on the authorities to immediately drop all charges against Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam
-- Calling on the authorities to immediately end the harassment and detention of human rights activists who are peacefully exercising their work and their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 10 MARCH 2011 TO:
President
HE Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir
Office of the President
People’s Palace PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 183 782 541
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice
Mohammed Bushara Dousa
Ministry of Justice, PO Box 302
Al Nil Avenue
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 183 764 168
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:
Minister of Interior
Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed
Ministry of Interior
PO Box 873
Khartoum, Sudan

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 266/10. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR54/040/2010/en

SUDANESE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER RELEASED

On 25 January, Sudanese human rights defender Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was released from prison. He spent more than one month in detention, solely in relation to his human rights work. The charges against him have not been dropped, and he could face further harassment and imprisonment.

Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, former director of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), is determined to appeal the charges against him, which might put him at risk of further harassment or even imprisonment.

On 22 December 2010, Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was sentenced to one year imprisonment and a fine of 3,000 Sudanese pounds (USD 1,250) for financial mismanagement. The charges were brought against him by the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), and followed a series of audits in 2008 and 2009, which did not demonstrate any unlawful activity by Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam. In March 2009, Dr. Mudawi appeared in court for the same charges, and was acquitted due to lack of evidence. However the HAC appealed against the court’s decision. The Court of Appeal ordered the Court of First Instance to review the case. On 22 December, the same judge who had acquitted him found him guilty this time, without reviewing any further evidence. Dr. Mudawi was immediately taken to Kober prison, after which he was transferred to Soba prison, and then Gereif prison.

On 25 January, prior to Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam’s release, a document was presented to the prison, stating that the appeal court upheld his conviction, but he had served a sufficient prison sentence and could be immediately released. The appeal decision was issued in the absence of Dr. Mudawi and his lawyers, hence denying him the right to defend his case in court. Dr. Mudawi is yet to receive a copy of the appeal court’s sentence but intends to appeal against its decision and take his case to the high court.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SUDO is an organization that was promoting human rights and social development and was one of the NGOs closed down by HAC in 2009 following the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against President Al Bashir, when the government closed down three national humanitarian and human rights organizations and expelled 13 international humanitarian organizations. SUDO filed an appeal against its closure by the HAC commissioner. On 21 April 2010, SUDO won the appeal on the grounds that the HAC commissioner had no authority to dissolve SUDO. The organization has not however resumed its activities.

Human rights defenders, civil society activists, journalists and members of the opposition continue to be targeted by the security forces in Sudan in relation to their work. A large number of human rights defenders were forced to flee the country following the arrest warrant against President Al Bashir, while those who remain have been silenced and prosecuted in relation to their work.

Four journalists were prosecuted in 2010 in relation to their work which was seen as critical of the government, and a number of individuals, including activists, journalists and a lawyer remain in detention since 30 October in relation to their work.

The Humanitarian Aid Commission limits the work of human rights and humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, and were responsible for closing down a number of organizations and expelling their staff members.

Further information on UA: 266/10 Index: AFR 54/004/2011 Issue Date: 27 January 2011

Take action

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Arabic or your own language:
-- Calling on the authorities to immediately drop all charges against Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam
-- Calling on the authorities to immediately end the harassment and detention of human rights activists who are peacefully exercising their work and their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 10 MARCH 2011 TO:
President
HE Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir
Office of the President
People’s Palace PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 183 782 541
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice
Mohammed Bushara Dousa
Ministry of Justice, PO Box 302
Al Nil Avenue
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 183 764 168
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:
Minister of Interior
Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed
Ministry of Interior
PO Box 873
Khartoum, Sudan

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 266/10. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR54/040/2010/en