Radio desk in Sudan raided by security, 9 people arrested

A special unit of the Sudan National Security on Saturday, 30 October, raided the offices of the Human Rights and Advocacy Network for Democracy (HAND) in Khartoum, Sudan. Several human rights groups share the office, including Radio Dabanga. Nine people were arrested, including the human rights activist Abdelrahman Adam (35), who works for Radio Dabanga. He has appeared before the Attorney General, suspected of several charges including crimes against the state. Radio Dabanga has no radio station inside Sudan, but broadcasts news and programmes through shortwave across Sudan. The station is registered in the Netherlands, supported by various countries.

The director of Radio Dabanga, Mr. Hildebrand Bijleveld, expressed his deep worries about the situation of Abdelrahman and the other detainees: “We hope that Abdelrahman will be mentally and physically well. As a human rights activist he is a great Darfurian with a long track record who favors peaceful means to solve the conflict in Darfur. None of his activities can be considered as illegal according to Sudanese law and the constitution. We hope that the charges will be dropped and he will be released soon.”

According to news agency Reuters, other detainees include human rights activists who had recently returned from a Youth Forum of the Khatim Adlan Centre in Khartoum, where they discussed the referendum and social peace in Darfur. The African Center for Justice and Peace studies said in a statement that “viewed in relation to the upcoming referendum, the arrests show the determination of the Sudanese government to suppress civil society during this critical time.”

The names of the detainees who are known (2 Dec) are:

– Abdelrahman Adam (33, Ad Daein)

– Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Gasim (45, Tulus)

– Abu Gasim (Ad Daein)

– Dirar Adam Dirar (29, Nyala)

– Zakaria Yagoub (Khartoum)

– Aisha Sardu Sharif (30)

– Manal Mohamed Ahmed (27, Kutum)

– Aziza Ali Idriss (26)