Darfur Bar Association: Detentions ‘an arbitrary measure in violation of the law’

The Darfur Bar Association, in cooperation with 39 other lawyers, submitted a memorandum to Sudan’s Public Prosecutor on Wednesday, demanding the release of 43 detainees in South, Central, and East Darfur.

In the memorandum submitted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, the Governor of Darfur, Minni Minawi, and the security committees of South, Central, and East Darfur, the lawyers stated that 23 people were detained in Nyala, South Darfur, 17 in Zalingei, Central Darfur, and 13 in Ed Daein in East Darfur, according to the preliminary lists.

The memorandum described what happened as an arbitrary measure in violation of the law, and referred to the detention of detainees in unknown places, which is a form of enforced disappearance, and demanded that the Public Prosecutor correct their legal status or release them immediately.

Journalists

The Sudanese Journalists Association for Human Rights (JAHR) called on the transitional authority to release the detained journalists, unconditionally, including former Information Minister and journalist Feisal Muhammad Salih, journalist Fayez El Seleik, journalist and Sudan TV staff member Maher Abuljoukh and all media professionals. In a statement, on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the organisation called for the release of all political detainees, including journalists holding positions in the country.