November 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese authorities detained three human right activists yesterday and interrogated them on their links with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Those arrested by Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Service include Osman Humaida, Moniem El-Gak and Amir Suleiman.

El-Gak and Suleiman were subsequently released but Humaida remains in the custody of the security bureau and his whereabouts are unknown.

A statement sent by El-Gak via email to Sudan Tribune said that they “regret the return by regime to square one of arbitrary arrest and harassing rights activists”.

“This is culmination for several attempts with the purpose of hampering human right movement, handicapping its members and Sudanese civil rights activists”.

El-Gak accused Sudanese authorities of using the ICC issue “as an excuse to target human rights activists, international and human right experts”.

In mid-July the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno- Ocampo filed 10 charges against Al-Bashir: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder and accused Al-Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.

No views in support of the ICC have been allowed inside Sudan following Al-Bashir’s indictment.

The statement called for the immediate release of Humaida and for international organizations to press Khartoum in that direction.

(ST)