African Commission: ‘Sudan breached rights of 88 displaced’
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights holds Sudan responsible for the arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and ill-treatment of 88 displaced people. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the UK-based REDRESS organisation explains that the 88 complainants were Sudanese nationals who had escaped conflict in South Sudan and Darfur, and settled in the Soba Aradi camp in the south-eastern part of Khartoum. In 2005, they resisted an official attempt to forcibly relocate thousands of residents. The complainants claim that the authorities detained them for more than 12 months without charges, or access to the outside world. In detention, officials tortured them to extract confessions, including with severe beatings using various objects. Following their release, they lodged a complaint against the police about the torture suffered, which the Sudanese authorities have failed to investigate. The African Commission fully vindicated the claims of the 88 displaced. It ruled that they did not have access to justice because Sudanese police officers enjoy immunity from prosecution, which can only be lifted by the head of the police. The Commission also found that the complainants had been arbitrarily arrested and detained, and subjected to torture in violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Commission has requested Sudan to pay adequate compensation, to initiate an effective and impartial investigation, and to amend legislation, in addition to providing training to security officers on human rights standards. “This decision is very important for the victims in this case, many of whom suffered serious physical injuries and psychological trauma”, said Ali Agab, a REDRESS lawyer who represented the complainants in Sudan on behalf of the Khartoum Centre for Human Rights and Environmental Development. “Sudan should now demonstrate that it takes its human rights treaty obligations seriously and carry out the measures requested by the African Commission.” File photo Related:‘Darfuri detainees in Kober prison tortured’: relative (23 February 2014)Five Central Darfur camp sheikhs still detained (17 February 2014) Trials of Sudanese arrested during fuel protests include minors: Lawyers (2 January 2014)
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights holds Sudan responsible for the arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and ill-treatment of 88 displaced people.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the UK-based REDRESS organisation explains that the 88 complainants were Sudanese nationals who had escaped conflict in South Sudan and Darfur, and settled in the Soba Aradi camp in the south-eastern part of Khartoum. In 2005, they resisted an official attempt to forcibly relocate thousands of residents.
The complainants claim that the authorities detained them for more than 12 months without charges, or access to the outside world. In detention, officials tortured them to extract confessions, including with severe beatings using various objects. Following their release, they lodged a complaint against the police about the torture suffered, which the Sudanese authorities have failed to investigate.
The African Commission fully vindicated the claims of the 88 displaced. It ruled that they did not have access to justice because Sudanese police officers enjoy immunity from prosecution, which can only be lifted by the head of the police. The Commission also found that the complainants had been arbitrarily arrested and detained, and subjected to torture in violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Commission has requested Sudan to pay adequate compensation, to initiate an effective and impartial investigation, and to amend legislation, in addition to providing training to security officers on human rights standards.
“This decision is very important for the victims in this case, many of whom suffered serious physical injuries and psychological trauma”, said Ali Agab, a REDRESS lawyer who represented the complainants in Sudan on behalf of the Khartoum Centre for Human Rights and Environmental Development. “Sudan should now demonstrate that it takes its human rights treaty obligations seriously and carry out the measures requested by the African Commission.”
File photo
Related:
‘Darfuri detainees in Kober prison tortured’: relative (23 February 2014)
Five Central Darfur camp sheikhs still detained (17 February 2014)
Trials of Sudanese arrested during fuel protests include minors: Lawyers (2 January 2014)
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