Case SDN 220508
Abduction/ Torture and ill-treatment
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Sudan.
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Sudan Organisation Against Torture (SOAT), a member of OMCT SOS-Torture network, about the abduction and torture of Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdu Hassan, 25 years old student at the Economics Faculty of al-Bahr al-Ahmar University and member of the Democratic Union, by an unidentified group of individuals in Port Sudan, Red Sea State.
According to the information received, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdu Hassan was abducted at 3pm on 13 May 2008 from a location near the university. He was allegedly taken away in a car belonging to the Military Service Department, with the license plate number 1007.
Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdu Hassan was reportedly taken to a deserted area known as Kilo 7, where he was allegedly tortured in an effort to force him to reveal the whereabouts of another political activist in Port Sudan. This reportedly included kicking him and beating him with hands, a water hose and metal bars. Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdu Hassan also reported that his abductors injected him twice with unknown liquids. After loosing consciousness, he was reportedly abandoned on the site and was later discovered at around 6pm on the same day by the driver of a passing vehicle belonging to al-Naser company. Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdu Hassan subsequently filed a complaint about the incident at the Port Sudan Central Police Station.
Around the time of this incident security agents in Port Sudan reportedly arrested an unknown number of students in connection with clashes between different political factions at al-Bahr al-Ahmar University. OMCT had been informed that at least one of these detainees was allegedly subjected to torture in custody[1].
Incidents of abuse in custody are encouraged by the fact that under current Sudanese law, many categories of state officials are protected from prosecution and enjoy effective impunity for human rights violations including arbitrary detention and torture.
The International Secretariat of OMCT expresses its grave concern about the abduction and torture and ill-treatment suffered by Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdu Hassan and urges the Sudanese authorities to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity at all times. OMCT recalls that Sudan is a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. In line with their obligations under this treaty, it is incumbent on the Sudanese authorities to consider seriously any allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and to undertake a thorough investigation in this regard.
Please write to the authorities in Sudan urging them to:
Please also write to the embassies of Sudan in your respective country.
Geneva, 22 May 2008
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
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