March 29, 2019
The Sudanese Human Rights Initiative (SHRI) is deeply concerned about the wellbeing of human rights lawyer, Mohamed Yosiaf Mohamed, following his re-arrest on 26th March, 2019. Mohamed had only been released from detention 5 days previously (on 21st March) having been held since 30th December 2018. He was re-arrested at his office in the Ammart, Khartoum, on his first day back at work since his release. security officials arrested Sudanese lawyer,
Mohamed’s exact whereabouts are unknown. He has not been allowed contact with his family or lawyer.
SHRI is particularly concerned that Mohamed may be at risk of torture. During his previous detention, he was personally summoned by the Director General of Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Services (NISS), Salah Gosh. Gosh accused Mohamed , along with 8 other activists, of having initiated and led the protests that have been ongoing in Sudan since December 2018. In an attempt to crackdown on demonstrations, scores of known activists have been arrested by NISS, regardless of their actual involvement in the protests. The unfounded accusation by NISS’s most senior officer, that Mohamed has taken a leading role in these protests, puts his security in detention at high risk.
Mohamed suffers from poor health, including heart disease, high blood pressure and asthma. His health deteriorated considerably during his previous detention, where he was denied access to medical treatment for almost 3 months.
The release and almost immediate re-arrest of a targeted activist is a known NISS strategy, allowing them to prolong detention and deflect international pressure to release activists. It places considerable mental stress to detainees and their families.
Mohamed Yosiaf Mohamed Abdalrahan is a human rights lawyer, who has worked tirelessly to progress freedom of religion and belief in Sudan. He was previously an activist with the Sudanese Human Rights Initiative (SHRI), where he provided legal aid and worked on human rights monitoring and advocacy. Abdalrahan was a leading member of the Sudanese civil society delegation that attended the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, in 2018.
(Sudanese Human Rights Initiative SHRI Facebook, 29/03/19)
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