Minors still awaiting trial for Sudan protests

Three minors, who have been detained since 29 September, are still waiting to appear before a judge in the Kalakla court in Khartoum. They were arrested for joining the protests against the lifting of fuel subsidies. A lawyer from the defence team, led by El Sadig Ali Hassan, told Radio Dabanga that Mohamed Hussein Ali (14), a basic school student, Alaa Eldin Salah (14), and Awad Nurein Mohamed (16) were arrested on 24 September, five days after massive demonstrations against the lifting of subsidies took place. They are still waiting to appear before Judge Mohamed El Muataz at the Kalakla Court in Khartoum. Four other minors are waiting to appear before a judge at the Halfaya Court in Khartoum North. “They are treated in a way that violates their rights as children. They have suffered gross violations of their rights, in circumstances degrading human dignity since their arrest on 29 September,” the lawyer said. The defence team comprises Jibril Hamed Hasabo, Azza Mohamed Ahmed, Nafeesa Hajar, Rehab El Fadel, and El Sadig Ali Hassan. File photo: Darfur schoolboys (Albert González Farran / Unamid) Related: Young protesters’ trials violate Sudanese Children’s Act: lawyer (17 December 2013)