Arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment of Mr. Adil Bakheit

Arbitrary arrest /Arbitrary detention /

Judicial harassment

Sudan

April 21, 2015

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a jointprogramme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the WorldOrganisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in thefollowing situation in Sudan.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment ofMr. Adil Bakheit, member of the Board of Trustees of the Sudan HumanRights Monitor (SHRM) by the National Intelligence and Security Services(NISS). Mr. Bakheit, a human rights trainer, also played an importantmonitoring role during the 2010 elections and 2011 referendum in Sudan.

According to the information received, on April16, 2015, at approximately 11 a.m. Mr. Bakheit was arrested in Karthoum by theNISS and has been held at the Al Awasat police station since then.

Later that day, the State security prosecutionoffice announced it had filed a criminal case against Mr. Bakheit under the1991 Criminal Act, on charges of “criminal joint acts in execution of criminalconspiracy”, (Article 21), “criminal conspiracy” (Article 24), “calling foropposition to public authority by use of violence or criminal force” (Article63), “publication of false news” (Article 66) and “impersonating a publicservant” (Article 93). Two additional charges brought up against Mr. Bakheit -“offences against the State undermining the constitutional system” (Article50), “waging war against the State” (Article 51) - are classified as crimesagainst the State and carry the death penalty.

Three weeks prior to his arrest, on March 26,the laptop of Mr. Bakheit, which contains information about his human rightswork, was confiscated when the NISS raided a workshop organised by theKhartoum-based TRACKS for Training and Human Development, whilst it was hostinga training session on social responsibility.

TheObservatory is deeply concerned for the arrest, detentionand judicial harassment of Mr. Adil Bakheit, as they only aim at sanctioninghis human rights activities. The Observatory is further concerned with Mr. AdilBakheit's health as he is diabetic and might not get access to proper medicalcare and dietary while in custody.

The Observatory calls upon authorities in Sudanto immediately and unconditionally release him.

Actions requested:

The Observatory urges the authorities of Sudan to:

i. Immediately andunconditionally release Mr. Adil Bakheit as his detention is arbitrary since itonly aims at sanctioning his human rights activities;

ii. Guarantee in all circumstances the physicaland psychological integrity of Mr. Adil Bakheit, including by ensuring Mr.Bakheit's access to his medication, as well as of all human rights defenders inSudan;

iii. Put an end to any kind of harassment, includingat the judicial level, againstMr. Adil Bakheit, as well as of all human rights defenders inSudan, and ensure in all circumstances that he is able to carry out hisactivities without hindrances;

iv. Conform in any circumstances with the provisionsof the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, in particular its Article 1,which states that “everyone has the right, individually or in association withothers, to promote the protection and realisation of human rights andfundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, and its article12.2 which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensurethe protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and inassociation with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de factoor de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as aconsequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in thepresent Declaration”;

v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for humanrights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rightsstandards and international instruments ratified by Sudan.

Addresses:

· Mr. President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, Office of the President, People’s Palace, PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: + 249 183 783223

· Mr. Mohammed Boushara Dossa, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan; Fax: 249 183 764 168 / +249 183 770 883; Email: moj@moj.gov.sd

· Mr. Ali Ahmed Karti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Relations, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: 249183772941

· Mr. Ibrahim Mahmoud Ahmed, Minister of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Interior, PO Box 873, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 779383 / +249 183 776 554; Email: ministry@mfa.gov.sd

· Advisory Council for Human Rights, Rapporteur, PO Box 302, Khartoum, Sudan, Fax: +249 183 77 08 83

· H.E.Ms. Rahma Salih Elobied, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue Blanc 51-53 (3rd Floor), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 731 26 56 / +41 22 716 19 70, Email: mission.sudan@bluewin.ch

· Embassy of Sudan in Brussels, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 124, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. Fax: 0032 (2) 648 34 99, Email: sudanbx@yahoo.com

Please also write to diplomatic representations of Sudan in your respective countries.