Darfur lawyers petition for release of 64 activists, camp leaders

The Darfur Lawyers’ Association yesterday presented a memo to the Minister of justice, Ahmed Bushara Dosa, demanding the release of 64 Darfuri activists, students and camp sheikhs, some of whom have been arrested for four years. The memo stated that those detained have lost their legal and constitutional rights through the abuse of the law and its incorrect application. The memo also demanded the minister to interfere to take procedures in solving the crisis and seize the chance to release them immediately or present them to court for urgent and fair trials.

From his side, the coordinator of camps in North Darfur called on the authorities of North Darfur to release 17 protestors who were arrested from camp Abu Shouk, besides the omdas of Abu Shouk and Al Salaam Camps who were arrested for almost two years without any charges.

Omda Atem, the coordinator of camps in North Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that 17 people who were arrested were practicing their right of self-expression and therefore should be immediately released. He also demanded the Security Council to hold a session to protect the displaced people from abuses from authorities.

In Khartoum, the security service arrested Adam Ali Abdul Majid from Angelo market in Hai Mayo on Sunday. One of his family members told Radio Dabanga that they were worried about his life, in light of the fact that he is the brother of Abdul Majid Ali Abdul Majid who was executed in April 2009 along with eight others who were charged with assassinating the journalist Mohammed Taha Mohammed Ahmed.