January 27, 2009 (CAIRO) – Five Darfur activists were arrested in Cairo and held for five days, according to the Sudan Human Rights Organization – Cairo, which issued an appeal for the safety of Darfur activists.

The group said it “received reliable information on the arrest of 5 Darfur activists for 5 days (January 15-19) in Cairo. The arrested activists have been working for the Center of Contemporary Studies in Cairo which pursues scientific research on the crisis in Darfur.”

The Sudanese rights organization, which was founded in December 1991, said that the director of the Center for Contemporary Studies, writer Abdelmoniem Suluman, was asked to leave Egypt, as were Mohamed Ahmed Elhaj and Adam Ibrahim Ahmed.

“Regrettably, the authorities confiscated computers and research files of the Center. Disturbing news indicated that the arrested activists were further harassed and threatened with immediate deportation to Sudan, despite a dire need to continue their research contributions to the Center,” said SHRO-Cairo.

Previous rights reports have alleged that Egyptian officials mistreat Sudanese refugees in the city, sometimes at the instigation of Sudanese intelligence officials.

SHRO-Cairo stated that it “believes that the crisis in Darfur might be largely resolved by the full recognition of activist works in and outside Sudan. The Organization urges the authorities to allow the Darfur activists to continue research at the Center safely with their computers and research materials.”

The Cairo-based organization publishes “The Sudanese Human Rights Quarterly.”

(ST)