56 Darfur students still detained in Khartoum

El Doroshab Criminal Court in Khartoum North yesterday set the date for another hearing session in the case against 56 Darfuri students of the University of Bahri on Wednesday.

Tajeldin Siddig, the member of the defence team reported this to Dabanga. The Darfuri students are facing charges of disturbing public order and jeopardising public safety.

On 22 December, a large force of policemen and security agents raided the Kadaro compound of the Bahri University, and violently broke up a political meeting, organised by the Darfur Students Association. A number of students were injured, and dozens were detained. The forces also searched houses in the neighbourhood rented to Darfuri students.

The Darfur Students Association had organised the meeting to discuss the eviction of at least 48 Darfuri students for not paying tuition fees, and the university administration’s ban on wearing African dress and a particular style of haircut.

On 25 December, the forces stormed the campus again, this time supported by militant student members of the ruling National Congress Party. Again a number of Darfuri students were beaten and detained.

In a statement, released on 28 December, the Darfur Bar Association (DBA) strongly condemned the detentions of students of Darfuri origin in Khartoum, and the “systematic campaigns” against them at Bahri University.

“Numerous students attending a peaceful civil meeting on 22 December were detained on forged accusations. Ten of them were taken to El Doroshab Criminal Court on the same day. 16 other detained Darfuri students did not participate in any activity that would justify prosecution on criminal charges. They were ordinary students, present at the University campus at the time of the raids,” the statement reads.

On 30 December, El Doroshab Criminal Court in Khartoum North acquitted ten Darfuri students. The DBA said in a press release, issued the same day, that the acquitted students were not present at the campus during the first raid on 22 December. They were all freshmen at Bahri University. These students were detained by security agents inside their house at about 11 am that day, while they were having breakfast.