Sudan: ANHRI condemns the continued arrests of peaceful protesters

Cairo: 14 February 2019

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemned the Sudanese security forces’ ongoing arrest campaigns against peaceful demonstrators, the last of which was the arrest of 14 academics on February 12 in front of Khartoum University.

The Sudanese security forces have continued their arrest campaigns launched against demonstrators, the latest was the arrest of 14 academics gathered to protest outside Khartoum University on the 12th of this February. The arrest coincides with the detention of a number of journalists gathered in front of the Ministry of Information and Communications to call for halting violence and respecting freedom of expression and opinion.

It is worth mentioning that many cities and villages in Sudan witness daily protests deemed to be the most nationwide in the history of the country since its independence in 1956, in protest against the Sudanese President’s willingness to amend the Constitution to allow him to run for another term, in addition to the country’s deteriorating economic conditions, represented in the increase in bread and fuel prices, price hikes and the cash flow crisis in banks.

The demonstrations began on Wednesday, December 19 in the eastern city of Atbara before it spread across the country’s main cities in North Sudan until it reached the capital Khartoum and then to many cities and villages in the country.

The Sudanese authorities confronted the citizens’ legitimate protests by declaring a state of emergency, then by arresting dozens of opposition leaders and protesters, blocking the instant messaging services on mobile phones, arresting several journalists and imposing tribal censorship on print newspapers.

The violations reached a peak when protesters have been tortured to death in detention centers. For example (but not limited to), Ahmed al-Khair Awad al-Karim, a teacher, was tortured to death in his detention center, and the Prosecution admitted that he was subjected to torture.

It’s also worth mentioning that Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, came to power in 1989 through a military coup against the government of Sadiq al-Mahdi. During his 30-year rule, most of Sudan’s regions suffer marginalization, South Sudan split from the North, and millions of people have fled their villages in Darfur.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said, “The Sudanese President has to listen to the demands of his citizens, promptly meet their legitimate demands, and to immediately start releasing the detainees.”

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