Activist beaten as Sudanese army disperses El Gedaref demo

An activist was allegedly severely beaten while documenting a peaceful protest in front of El Gedaref state government offices on Sunday, when the demonstration was violently dispersed by Sudanese regular forces using teargas. 

The peaceful protest was called by activists to demand the replacement of the military governor by a civilian, the activation of the Empowerment Removal Committee and other committees to purge the Zakat* (Muslim alms) Chamber from the cadres of the former regime, and to prepare and approve a new zakat act.

Activist El Murira Abdelgadir, who was documenting the demonstration and subsequent dispersal on his mobile phone, was severely beaten by soldiers (see picture).

The association said in a statement that “the incident is an extension of the aggressions and abuses of the military apparatus in applying the law arbitrarily”. They condemned the action as “not in line with the goals of the December revolution”.

*Zakat Chambers are responsible for the distribution of food and alms to the most vulnerable members of the population, however there are often allegations of favouritism and corruption, and their infrastructure steeped in vestiges of the deposed regime.

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