Sudan court releases 13 protesters

A court in Khartoum on Tuesday ordered the release of 13 youths accused of fomenting riots and creating chaos during the popular protests in September last year. The court acquitted eight of the protesters. The five others were found guilty. They were sentenced to prison for the period they had been in custody since their arrest in September. The verdict was received with cheers of their relatives and neighbours of the Khojalab district in Khartoum. On 23 September 2013, widespread protests erupted in Sudan’s major towns after the government had lifted subsidies on fuel and other basic commodities to bring its budget under control. The authorities reacted with a fierce crack-down. According to the National Consensus Forces, an alliance of Sudanese opposition parties, at least 300 protesters died, and some 1,000 people were injured. More than 800 others were detained. The government put the death toll at 80. In January, many detained protesters were still being held without charges. File photo: Sudanese protesting against the lifting of fuel subsidies, September 2013 Related:Sudanese Solidarity Committee demands release of detained protesters (9 January 2014) Trials of Sudanese arrested during fuel protests include minors: Lawyers (2 January 2014)Minors still awaiting trial for Sudan protests (2 January 2013) Young protesters’ trials violate Sudanese Children’s Act: lawyer (17 December 2013)Army Major resigns, ‘thousands’ arrested across Sudan (25 September 2013)