Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services raid SHRM premises, seize equipment and documents

Khartoum: 21 December 2014 - Seven members of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), on 21 December 2014 at about 12 O’clock at Midday, raided the premises of the Sudanese Human Rights Monitor (SHRM), located in Khartoum II. The security agents ordered the SHRM staff to cease their work for two hours during which they searched every corner of the premises. They also ordered participants at a workshop on universal periodical review, which was taking place in the premises of the SHRM, to end the workshop immediately. They detained one of the participants at the workshop, journalist Mohamed Al Fateh Hima, known as “Mohamed Nyala” without elaborating the reasons for his detention. Mohamed is a journalist of Al-Maidan newspaper and a member of the secretariat of the independent “Sudanese Journalists Network”. NISS personnel seized four laptops, two of them are personal laptops, and two computers desktops belong to SHRM office in addition to many other documents relating to the activities of the Monitor.

The break-in on the SHRM comes as part of rising crackdown on civil society organizations across the country that include raids, closure, refusal to renew registration, summoning their officials, termination of their activities, observation of premises and harassing visitors and imposing travel ban. The raid comes less than two weeks from the detention of two prominent lawyers and members of the Monitor: Dr. Amin Mekki Medani and Ustaz Farouq Abu Eissa, in the backdrop of their signature of the “Sudan Call”.

The SHRM rejects this security raid and considers it a violation of Sudan’s constitution, laws and international obligations which guarantee the civil society groups the freedom of independent work. We also remind the government of the Sudan of its duties to protect independent civil society activities rather than undermining their stability through various forms of violations. The SHRM, once again, renews its demand for the release of its two members, Dr. Amin Mekki Medani and Ustaz Farouq Abu Eissa, political activist Dr. Farah Agar, Ustaz Mohamed Al Dod and all the political detainees.

The SHRM calls on authorities to release Ustaz Mohamed Al Fateh (Nyala) who was detained while participating in a workshop at the Monitor’s premises. It also demands the return of the properties of the Monitor and its documents which were unlawfully confiscated.  We will remain ceased of this matter and regularly update the public opinion.

For further information contact:

Marsad.org.sudan@gmail.com