West Darfur lawyers demand release of ‘emergency’ convicts

The Lawyers Bar Association (LBA) in El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, have handed over a memorandum to the head of the state's judiciary demanding the immediate release of those tried under the State of Emergency declared under the Al Bashir regime.

Feisal Abdallah, LBA Rapporteur, said that the memorandum comes within the responsibilities of the Association to follow up the decisions of the Transitional Military Council on the release of those sentenced according to the State of Emergency, pointing that the coalition’s information confirms that emergency convicts in the state are still serving those penalties, calling for the release of all those sentenced under the law.

The military junta, that assumed power in Khartoum following the overthrow of former president Omar Al Bashir on April 11, has pledged to release all detainees of the previous regime.

Darfur Bar Association

The Darfur Bar Association (DBA) renewed its demand for the release of all political detainees, those awaiting and sentenced in political cases and prisoners of war and announced its rejection of the talk of the junta that the release of prisoners will be included in the peace file, and noted that non-release of the prisoners is not justified and is not based on any argument.

The DBA noted that it had entered into intensive consultations with its partners and exchanged views with the majority of political forces and armed movements, and met with several diplomatic missions and held a press conference in Darfur for the announcement of the situation and measures to restore constitutional life and urgent measures to be taken including the immediate release of all political detainees, detainees and convicts in political cases and prisoners of war.

On Monday, it said in a statement that it rejected reports attributed to the Military Council leaders that the release of the prisoners would be discussed within the peace file.

It noted that the prisoners are prisoners of the former regime and expressed surprise at the failure to immediately release them on the grounds that their release will be considered within the file of peace.

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