Autopsy confirms death by torture of Darfur detainee

An official medical report has confirmed the death by torture of a pharmacy employee during his detention by security officers in Gireida, South Darfur.

Six pharmacy workers in Gireida Hospital were detained on 8 January for their alleged illegal selling of medicines from the hospital’s pharmacy. Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed was one of them. On Friday January 12, his body was transferred from the security service’s office to Gireida Hospital.

A family member of Ahmed spoke to Radio Dabanga yesterday. The autopsy revealed a rupture of the kidneys, breaking of the testicles, removal of nails and a cut in the spinal cord. His death was the result of torture.

His relatives refused to bury Ahmed right away and requested an autopsy by a forensic doctor because his body showed marks of torture. The doctor, coming from Khartoum, arrived on Tuesday to do the autopsy. Ahmed was buried in Nyala the same day.

“Before his burial, we received the medical report at the court in Nyala in the presence of the prosecutor of Gireida,” the relative said. “We demand the security service officers who are responsible for his death in detention, to be punished.”