Lawyers raise memo against ongoing detention of Darfuri sheikhs

A Sudanese lawyers’ association has submitted a memorandum to the National Human Rights Commission in the country on the arrest of the sheikhs Matar Younis and Yousef Mohamed Abaker.

The memorandum was raised regarding their transfer from cities in Darfur to Khartoum and Port Sudan. The Darfur Bar Association (DBA) submitted the memorandum that is signed by 24 lawyers, noting that Younis has been detained since April 1 but has been deprived of contact with his family and lawyer.

He is suffering from health problems and Younis' (48) detention is troublesome because he is the only breadwinner of his family, the memorandum adds.

Sheikh Yousef Abakar, the Imam and the preacher of a mosque at El Shaati district in El Geneina, was arrested on May 6.

The memorandum confirmed that both sheikh Matar and Yousef have not committed any of the criminal acts that would lead to their transfer away from Zalingei and El Geneina respectively. “This decision deprives them of seeing their families and of the necessary means of life.”

The DBA called on the UNHCR to take immediate action to ensure the unconditional release of both sheikhs.

On April 19, Amnesty International pressed for Younis’ release in an ‘urgent action’ call. Last week the Sudan Change Now Movement also called for the release of the visually impaired sheikh Matar Younis, who is considered one of the most prominent defenders of the displaced in Darfur.