11 July 2012

Sudanese youth activist Ussamah Mohammed, who criticised the government in a video published on Al Jazeera TV, has been detained incommunicado since 22 June in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, putting him at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

Ussamah Mohammed had gone with a friend on 22 June to the Khartoum neighbourhood of Burri, where protests had recently been taking place. They were carrying smartphones, taking pictures of arrests by National Security Services agents and documenting on Twitter the heavy security presence in the neighbourhood ahead of a day of planned protests.

Ussamah Mohammed and his friend were both arrested shortly after 11.30am by plainclothes officers and forced into two different pickup trucks. While his friend was released after seven hours, Ussamah Mohammed is still detained. His family were informed by an NSS agent that he was in Kober prison, at the NSS section for political prisoners. Ussamah Mohammed has not had access to a lawyer and has not been brought to court. He is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Ussamah Mohammed is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Ussamah Mohammed, 32, is a web developer originally from Omdurman. The day he was arrested, he had recorded a YouTube video which was featured on the website of Al Jazeera English, in which he announced that he would take part in the protests planned for 30 June.

Ussamah Mohammed graduated from the University of Khartoum’s College of Mathematics, and lives in Khartoum.

Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:

• Calling on the authorities to release Ussamah Mohammed immediately and unconditionally;
• Urging them to ensure Ussamah Mohammed is not tortured or otherwise ill-treated, and that he has regular access to his family and lawyer of his choice;
• Demanding that they stop the harassment of peaceful activists and journalists, and honour their commitment to freedom of expression, as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sudan is a party.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 22 AUGUST 2012 TO:

Minister of Interior
Ibrahim Mohamed Hamed
Ministry of Interior
PO Box 873
Khartoum,
Sudan
Email: mut@isoc.sd
Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice
Mohammed Bushara Dousa
Ministry of Justice,
PO Box 302
Al Nil Avenue
Khartoum
Sudan
Salutation: Your Excellency

And copies to:
President
HE Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir
Office of the President
People’s Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Email: info@sudan.gov.sd
Salutation: Your Excellency

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

URGENT ACTION
SUDANESE YOUTH ACTIVIST AT RISK OF TORTURE: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Inspired by protests throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Sudan has experienced frequent demonstrations since January 2011, calling for political change and an improvement in socio-economic conditions. In response the Sudanese authorities have frequently harassed, arrested and ill-treated peaceful protestors.

Since the latest demonstrations began, on 16 June 2012, scores of activists, bloggers and journalists have been arrested and detained in an attempt by the authorities to stifle dissent and reporting on the protest movement, in violation of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The protest movement spread from universities in Khartoum and its neighbouring cities Omdurman and Khartoum North to residential areas of the capital as well as provincial towns, including Atbara, Dongola, El Obeid, and Port Sudan.

Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of torture and other ill-treatment of protesters by the NSS, in particular since the beginning of the recent protest movement in mid-June 2012. NSS agents have beaten detainees with their fists, hoses, plastic pipes, sticks and metal bars. The NSS also insulted detainees, deprived them of sleep and made them stand or sit for many hours in direct sunlight, in high temperatures.

Name: Ussamah Mohammed
Gender m/f: M

Amnesty International: Ussamah Mohammed appeal