Human Rights Watch calls for release of Hawa Abdulla

Human Rights Watch, an international advocacy organization, called on the Sudanese authorities to release the Darfuri activist Hawa Abdulla or direct clear charges against her for which she would stand trial. The organization said that it is worried about the possibility that Hawa could have been subjected to torture and bad treatment and stated that the pictures of Hawa which the government published caused further worry over her situation. Human Rights Watch also urged the Sudanese authorities to allow Hawa to immediately contact her family and a lawyer of the UN peacekeeping force in Darfur, which was her employer. Hawa Abdulla’s location should be made known and she should be allowed to undergo a medical check-up by an independent doctor, the group said. The Human Rights Watch once again called on the government to amend the National Security law to match with the constitution of Sudan and International Human Rights Law.