Five Central Darfur camp sheikhs still detained

The detention of the five sheikhs of Murnei camp for the displaced, Kereinik locality in Central Darfur, has entered its second week as the police of Murnei have denied them bail. One of the Murnei camp sheikhs told Radio Dabanga they have twice filed a request for the release of the five detained camp elders. The police, however, refused to release them, which is, the sheikh noted, contrary to the law and human rights. He also said that the people in the camp are currently living in bad security, humanitarian, and mental conditions because of the detentions, and the threats posed by the security forces. The camp elder reiterated the Murnei camp’s population’s total rejection of “restructuring the camp”, and that the detained Sheikhs were not guilty of objecting to that, appealing to the humanitarian organizations to intervene for the release of the detained Sheikhs and find solutions to their problem. It is worth noting that the security forces arrested camp elder Khamis Allajabo four days ago and beat him after tying him with shackles. The first sheikh was arrested on 5 February after the camp residents expelled a group of urban planning experts from El Geneina, protesting the “restructuring of the camp”. Four other sheikhs were detained two weeks ago. File photo Related:More sheikhs arrested who reject West Darfur camp planning (14 February 2014)Sheikh arrested after West Darfur displaced eject ‘planning experts’ (5 February 2014)Displaced of Murnei camp in West Darfur arrested (17 January 2014)