Nyala students tortured in prison, families claim

Families of Nyala university students, detained by Sudan’s security services almost one month ago, claim they are subjected to torture and ill-treatment in prison, Radio Dabanga was informed on Sunday, 30 September. The relatives said the students are being kept in prisons at the offices of the Nyala security services, where they threatened to hold protests if the detainees are not released, they said. They expressed their concern for the students’ health after information about their critical conditions was recently leaked, relatives explained. According to the relatives, the detained academics are being held in solitary confinement cells at the Nyala security services offices. In addition, the detainees are not allowed to see their families or be brought to fair trial, Radio Dabanga was told. Detainees’ relatives demanded that the Nyala university administration intervenes and releases the students. They also demanded that the security services either release the students or give them the chance of a fair trial. Last month, Radio Dabanga reported that the security services in Nyala launched a campaign of mass arrests among university and secondary school students.Sources informed Radio Dabanga that 10 university students and one secondary school student were arrested last September. According to reports, three university students were released since, while the other eight remain in prison.Related content: Eleven students arrested and tortured in Nyala (18 September 2012)