While Sudanese activist Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam has been released from government custody after a month in detention in unknown locations, or “ghost houses,” his colleague, Mr. Salah Mohammed Abdalrahman, remains missing.
Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), an organization actively monitoring human rights violations in Darfur, was arrested by Sudanese government security forces at his home on January 24, 2005. Mr. Salah Mohammed Abdalrahman, a volunteer with SUDO, was detained along with Dr. Mudawi. While in detention in unknown locations, known as “ghost houses” Dr. Mudawi began a hunger strike to protest his illegal imprisonment, solitary confinement, and lack of medical treatment. Due to international pressure, he was finally taken to a hospital where he was allowed access to his family, and was released from government custody in early March. However, the Sudanese government has reportedly stated that it may prosecute Dr. Mudawi for violation of a criminal law against attempted suicide due to his hunger strike. If they do so, Dr. Mudawi could soon be re-detained. Mr. Salah’s whereabouts are still unknown, however, and concern for his well-being is mounting.
Human Rights First believes that this continued harassment of Dr. Mudawi and Mr. Salah’s disappearance is intended to deter human rights activists in Sudan from exposing continuing violations of human rights in Darfur. Some of SUDO's recent activities include educative workshops on human rights and providing assistance to displaced persons in Darfur.
“The Sudanese government continues to target human rights defenders by arresting and detaining human rights lawyers, individuals who met with Red Cross representatives and African Union personnel, and others who have spoken out about the conflict in Darfur”, said Neil Hicks, Director of International Programs at Human Rights First.
“Local human rights defenders, like Dr. Mudawi and Mr. Salah have an essential role to play in informing the world about the continuing human rights crisis in their country and in gathering evidence that can eventually be used to hold those responsible for serious violations of human rights accountable for their crimes,” said Hicks.
Dr. Mudawi was previously arrested by Sudanese government security forces on December 28, 2003, and documents regarding development work in Darfur were seized. He was not charged until February 11, 2004, at which point he was accused of several violations of the Sudanese penal code that carried the death penalty. All charges against Dr. Mudawi were dropped and he was released on August 7, 2004.
Since 2003, massive violations of human rights and humanitarian law have been committed in Darfur. Civilians have been victims of mass killings, rape and other serious forms of sexual violence, burning of villages, and forced displacement. In September 2004, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell concluded that "genocide has been committed in Darfur" and that the government of Sudan and the Janjaweed militia bear responsibility. He also concluded that "genocide may still be occurring." As of March 2005, more than 1.8 million people are estimated to be internally displaced within Darfur and an additional 200,000 have crossed the border to seek refuge in neighboring Chad.
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