April 11
SUDAN:
Two Zaghawa Tribe Members Severely Tortured, now Face Death Penalty
Monday April 11th, 2005 16:10.
Sudan Organisation Against Torture
SOAT Press Release: April 11 2005
On 22 February 2005 at 11.30am, Sudanese armed forces arrested two men
from the Zaghawa tribe in Shourom village, Nyala province, Southern Darfur
state on suspicion of joining the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA).
The details of the men are as follows:
1. Mahmoud Abaker Osman, (38 yrs) merchant, Zaghawa
2. Diggo Abdel Jabbar, Omda (community leader), (45 yrs), merchant,
Zaghawa
Mahmoud Abaker Osman and Diggo Abdel Jabbar are currently detained in
Nyala prison, and face charges that carry the death penalty. The two men
were reportedly tortured repeatedly and severely whilst in the custody of
the armed forces and military intelligence, and have serious injuries as a
result. Both men have been denied access to medical treatment and there
are serious concerns for their health.
Following their arrest on 22 February 2005, the two men were reportedly
taken by government armed forces to a military camp in Sanya Afondu
village (approximately 70 Km south east of Nyala) where they were detained
in a hole in the ground for 11 days. During this time, eight soldiers,
under the control of a senior ranking military official, beat the men with
sticks all over their bodies, beat them with metal sticks on the head and
legs, flogged them on the back and chest and burnt their feet and hands
with fire.
On 4 March 2005, the two men were transferred into the custody of the
Military Intelligence in Nyala, where they were detained incommunicado,
and denied food for five days.
On 13 March 2005, Mahmoud Abaker Osman and Diggo Abdel Jabbar were taken
to Nyala Wasat (central) police station and charged under Article 51
(Waging War against the State) and Article 58 (Abetment to Mutiny) of the
1991 Sudanese Penal Code, which carry the death penalty.
On 19 March 2005, after six days in police custody, the two men were
transferred to Nyala prison where they remain in detention and are denied
access to medical treatment. Mahmoud Abaker Osman and Diggo Abdel Jabbar
are now awaiting trial before the Specialised Criminal Courts in Darfur,
which hold summary trials that fall far short of international standards
and accept confessions extracted under torture.
Background
Over the past two years, a pattern of widespread and systematic recourse
to torture perpetrated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the
Military Intelligence operating in Darfur has emerged. Torture is widely
used in Darfur, often to extract confessions of membership or affiliation
to the armed opposition groups operating in the region.
Members of the sedentary communities in Darfur, such as the Zaghawa, Fur
and Maselit, are particularly targeted as they are perceived to support
the armed opposition movements. Detainees in Darfur are often not informed
of the reason for arrest and are detained incommunicado without charge or
trial for extended periods of time. They can be brought before Specialised
Criminal Courts in Darfur which hand down cruel, inhuman and degrading
punishments, including the death penalty.
Specialised Criminal Courts which operate in Darfur fall far short of
international standards for fair trial. Confessions extracted under
torture are accepted as evidence and there are curbs on the right to
appeal. The right to defence is limited, with lawyers often reliant on the
good will of the judge to enable them to attend the court and represent
their client.
SOAT expresses serious concern for the health and well-being of Mahmoud
Abaker Osman and Diggo Abdel Jabbar who have sustained severe injuries
through torture and calls on the Sudanese authorities to:
Grant the two men immediate access to medical treatment and legal advice
Immediately investigate the alleged incidents of torture and ensure that
those responsible are brought to justice
Take all necessary measures to ensure the physical and psychological
integrity of the detainees
Ensure that Mahmoud Abaker Osman and Diggo Abdel Jabbar are brought
promptly brought before a court that operates in compliance with
international standards of fair trial.
SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK
in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT
information, please contact us:
Argo House
Kilburn Park Road
London NW6 5LF, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7625 8055
Fax: +44 (0)20 7372 2656
E-mail: i...@soatsudan.org
Website: www.soatsudan.org
