Women protesters detained in Omdurman, Sudan

25/08/2014 21:30

The security services detained 16 activists of the “No to Women’s Oppression Initiative”, who staged a protest in front of Omdurman women prison today. The women protested against the detention of women politicians, especially Dr Maryam El Sadig El Mahdi, Co-Vice President of the National Umma Party (NUP), reportedly held in Omdurman’s women prison, and Samia Kiir, Secretary-General of the Sudanese Congress Party, detained in En Nahud. Eyewitnesses told Radio Dabanga that the security forces used large quantities of tear gas to disperse the protesting women. Some of the women, among them Sara Nugdallah, NUP Secretary-General, were beaten. 16 women were taken into custody by the police in central Omdurman. They were released later today (Thursday). Rabah El Sadig El Mahdi, member of the initiative “No to women’s oppression”, told Radio Dabanga after her release that the security forces started using tear gas after they had taken the women’s banners. She mentioned that the other women, released on bail, are Sara Nugdallah, Dr Ihsan Figeiri, Zeinab El Sadig El Mahdi, Dr Sandra Faroug Kadouda, Um Selma El Sadig El Mahdi, Rashida Ibrahim Abdel Karim, Walaa El Sayed Bushra, Muna Mohamed Taher, Ilham Bushra, Ghafran Mortada, and Zeinab Badreldin. “We were detained, and released again without being told what the charges were,” Rabah noted. She stressed that they will continue demonstrating “until all political detainees are released”. Picture above: Sara Nugdallah in police custody, 28 August 2014Pictures below: The women at the protest in Omdurman, and later in police custody. Related:Umma Party protesters hand memo to Sudan security (24 August 2014) Sudan rebels, UN demand release of Dr El Sadig (15 August 2014) EU, Norway call for Maryam El Mahdi’s release (13 August 2014) Sudan: Maryam El Mahdi transferred to Omdurman prison (12 August 2014)Opposition party HQ in West Kordofan raided again, six detained (12 July 2014)

The security services detained 16 activists of the “No to Women’s Oppression Initiative”, who staged a protest in front of Omdurman Women Prison today.

The women protested against the detention of women politicians, especially Dr Maryam El Sadig, Co-Vice President of the National Umma Party (NUP), reportedly held in the prison, and Samia Kiir, Secretary-General of the Sudanese Congress Party, who is being held in En Nahud in West Kordofan.

Eyewitnesses told Radio Dabanga that the security forces used large quantities of tear gas to disperse the protesting women. Some of the women, among them Sara Nugdallah, NUP Secretary-General, were beaten. 16 women were taken into custody by the police in central Omdurman. They were released later today (Thursday).

Member of the initiative Rabah El Sadig told Radio Dabanga after her release that the security forces used tear gas against the protestors, after they had taken the women’s banners.

She mentioned that the other women, released on bail, are Sara Nugdallah, Dr Ihsan Fagiri, Zeinab El Sadig, Dr Sandra Faroug, Um Selma El Sadig, Rasheeda Ibrahim, Walaa El Sayed, Muna El Taher, Ilham Bushra, Ghafran Mortada, and Zeinab Badreldin.

“We were detained, and released again without being told what the charges were,” Rabah noted.

She stressed that they will continue demonstrating “until all political detainees are released”.

Picture above: Sara Nugdallah in police custody, 28 August 2014

Pictures below: The women at the protest in Omdurman, and later in police custody.