Dr Maryam El Mahdi released by Sudan security

09/09/2014 22:00

(UPDATED) Dr Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi, Co-Vice-President of the National Umma Party (NUP), was released from the security section of Omdurman Women’s Prison today. High-level sources from within the NUP notified Radio Dabanga that Dr El Mahdi was released in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The NUP Co-Vice-President was detained on 12 August by agents of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) at Khartoum airport. She was returning home after attending the historic Paris conference, the first face-to-face meeting of the NUP and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF, an alliance of the main rebel movements) leaderships. The summit resulted in the Paris Declaration which pledges to unite Sudan’s opposition forces, to work together on a democratic transformation in the country. Dr El Mahdi’s detention sparked a series of demonstrations and protests by her supporters, demanding her release. In a press conference at NUP headquarters in Omdurman later today, she said that she had not been exposed to any physical torture during her 28-days detention. She suffered, however, from “mental self-torture” during her solitary confinement. Dr El Mahdi told the press that she was interrogated three times, after which she was told that she will not be allowed to travel abroad for official purposes. During the whole period of detention, she was not informed about the reason for her detention, nor the charges against her. “And nobody told me why I was released.” She confirmed her party’s adherence to the Paris Declaration, and stressed that the NUP will continue advocating its contents, aiming “to end the crises in Sudan in a peaceful and democratic way”. News photo: Dr El Mahdi at the press conference today (Radio Dabanga) News pictures above and below: Dr Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi shortly after her release from Omdurman Women’s Prison, 9 September 2014. (Radio Dabanga correspondent) Related: Dr El Mahdi’s detention ‘without legal basis’: lawyer (2 September 2014) Sudan women politicians call for detainees’ release (1 September 2014) Sudan: NUP cadres demand release of Maryam El Mahdi (19 August 2014) Sudan security refuses letter from detained El Mahdi’s family (17 August 2014) Sudan rebels, UN demand release of Dr El Sadig (15 August 2014) EU, Norway call for Maryam El Mahdi’s release (13 August 2014) Sudan: Maryam El Mahdi transferred to Omdurman prison (12 August 2014) Sudan’s rebel leaders condemn arrest of Maryam El Sadig (12 August 2014) Sudan opposition parties sign for toppling regime (8 August 2014)

(UPDATED) Dr Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi, Co-Vice-President of the National Umma Party (NUP), was released from the security section of Omdurman Women’s Prison today.

High-level sources from within the NUP notified Radio Dabanga that Dr El Mahdi was released in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The NUP Co-Vice-President was detained on 12 August by agents of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) at Khartoum airport. She was returning home after attending the historic Paris conference, the first face-to-face meeting of the NUP and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF, an alliance of the main rebel movements) leaderships.

The summit resulted in the Paris Declaration which pledges to unite Sudan’s opposition forces, to work together on a democratic transformation in the country.

Dr El Mahdi’s detention sparked a series of demonstrations and protests by her supporters, demanding her release.

In a press conference at NUP headquarters in Omdurman later today, she said that she had not been exposed to any physical torture during her 28-days detention. She suffered, however, from “mental self-torture” during her solitary confinement.

Dr El Mahdi told the press that she was interrogated three times, after which she was told that she will not be allowed to travel abroad for official purposes. During the whole period of detention, she was not informed about the reason for her detention, nor the charges against her. “And nobody told me why I was released.”

She confirmed her party’s adherence to the Paris Declaration, and stressed that the NUP will continue advocating its contents, aiming “to end the crises in Sudan in a peaceful and democratic way”.

News photo: Dr El Mahdi at the press conference today (Radio Dabanga)

News pictures above and below: Dr Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi shortly after her release from Omdurman Women’s Prison, 9 September 2014. (Radio Dabanga correspondent)