
News from Khartoum
Security forces refuses to receive petition for release of detainees
Relatives of detainees submitted a memorandum to the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) demanding their release or fair trial. Officers at NISS Information Office refused to receive the memorandum and forced relatives of the detainees to leave the building. The relatives organized a vigil in front of NISS building, demanding their release. The precise number of the detainees is unknown but they certainly consist of activists and political opponents. NISS continues to detain demonstrators and political opponents for unspecified periods without a fair trial.
All detainees were detained while exercising their constitutional right to the freedom of expression and assembly and these are rights protected under the following Articles of the constitution:
Article 40/1 of the Constitution of the Sudan 2005 provides: The right to peaceful assembly shall be guaranteed; every person shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form or join political parties, associations and trade or professional unions for the protection of his/her interests.
Article 39/1 states: every citizen shall have an unrestricted right to the freedom of expression, reception and dissemination of information, publication, and access to the press without prejudice to order, safety or public morals as determined by law.
Source: Sudantribune