REPUBLIC OF SUDAN：
CHARGES FOR INDECENT BEHAVIOUR DROPPED

Charges against Najlaa Mohammed Ali and Amin Senada were dropped on 2 December. The two activists had been at risk of imprisonment or flogging for ‘indecent behaviour’.

On 4 December in court in Port Sudan Najlaa Mohammed Ali and Amin Senada learned that the charges against them had been dropped after the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence against them and testimonies from the police contradicted one another.

Najlaa Mohammed Ali, a lawyer and human rights activist, and Amin Senada, also an activist, were arrested in Port Sudan on 21 October after members of Sudan’s police and security forces raided their car. They accused Amin Senada of having his hand on Najlaa Mohammed Ali’s shoulder and ordered both to go with them to the Department of Public Order, threatening the use of force if they refused to comply. At the Department of Public Order, the police and security officers also claimed they had found the two activists kissing in the car. Najlaa Mohammed Ali and Amin Senada were charged with ‘indecent behaviour’ under Article 152 of Sudan’s 1991 Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 lashes.

Amnesty International welcomes the fact that the charges against Najlaa Mohammed Ali and Amin Senada have been dropped. The charges, which the organization believes were related to Najlaa Mohammed Ali's political activism, including her participation in countrywide demonstrations that took place in September, should not have been brought in the first place. 

No further action is requested at this time from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

This is the second update of UA 309/13. Further information: http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR54/027/2013/en

Name: Najlaa Mohammed Ali (f), Amin Senada (m)

Gender m/f: both