Lawyers challenge opposition member’s detention

The lawyers of Nabil El Nuweiri, a member of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party who is based in the UK, filed a petition to challenge his ongoing detention by the Sudanese security service.

The defendant's team filed the petition on Monday morning. Lawyer Kamal Mohamed told Radio Dabanga that the appeal “relates to the unconstitutionality of some articles in the National Security Act under which Nabil El Nuweri was arrested”. The arrest contradicts Article 27, paragraph 3, of the Bill of Rights, according to the statement.

“Under these articles, the security apparatus exercises powers of arrest and investigation, which are the powers of the attorney-general and contrary to the Sudanese constitution.”

Kamal Mohamed said he expects the release of El Nuweiri, as there should be no political detainees under the Sudanese constitution and the African and international rights charters.

The SCP member was arrested by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) on 29 August, at Khartoum North Criminal Court while attending the ruling session in the controversial case of the University of Khartoum student Asim Omar, who was found guilty of the murder of a policeman during student protests in May 2017. He was released again on 30 August and was summoned for the second time on 5 September, without being released until the time of writing this news.

El Nuweiri is a member of the SCP who is based in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and is visiting Sudan on short leave.

Tribesmen's trial

The council of the Fellata tribe in Darfur has renewed its demand to the authorities of South Darfur, to release sixteen of its tribe members or bring them to trial in the case that their involvement in the recent tribal clashes is proved.

An incident of cattle theft resulted in armed clashes more than two months ago.

El Tajani Daoud, the head of the Fellata tribal council, said in a press statement that he filed a complaint to the Sudanese parliament's security and defence committee. “Sixteen members are still under arrest. In the meantime, Abdallah Arsho and six others were released.”