Right group reports wave of arrests

Sudanese government security forces have arrested large numbers of people belonging to opposition groups in different towns in Sudan after accusing the Popular National Congress (PNC) of inciting riots. A press release by the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG), a Sudanese human rights body based in London, named 58 male detainees. It called on all governments and human rights organisations to urge the Sudanese government to release those held without valid charges, and uphold the right of the detainees right to fair and impartial trials. The organisation also called on the government to “ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all the detainees”.

According to the press release, issued 18 September, the 58 detainees were arrested in Al-Fashir (western Sudan), Port Sudan (capital of Red Sea State in the east) and Al-Ubayyid (capital of Kordofan State) after the government accused the PNC of inciting riots. The press release said the PNC had also been accused of being “the hidden hand” behind student demonstrations protesting against school fees in Port Sudan. The PNC is the party led by Hasan al-Turabi, the former Speaker of the National Assembly and leader of the National Islamic Front (NIF. The crimes against the state department of the attorney general’s office said it had started investigating the incident to determine if there was a case to be submitted to court, according to the press release.