URGENT ACTION SUDANESE ACTIVIST RELEASED Sudanese activist Rudwan Dawod was released on 16 August, after being seized by the National Security Service (NSS).

On 13 August 2012, Rudwan Dawod was seized by the NSS agents immediately after he was acquitted of terrorism charges and sentenced instead to a fine for “attempting to disturb the public peace”, a minor offence with which many protestors in Sudan have been charged in recent months. He was seized outside the court and taken to an undisclosed location where he was held incommunicado for over 72 hours.

Rudwan Dawod is a co-founder of the prominent youth group Girifna (‘We’re fed up”), which has been involved in the recent wave of demonstrations criticizing the Sudanese government. On 3 July he was arrested by the NSS in Khartoum, the capital, while taking part in a peaceful protest. He was detained for six weeks and charged with
terrorism under Article 65 of the Sudanese Criminal Code, which can carry the death penalty. Amnesty International has reason to believe Rudwan Dawod was tortured during this period, including with severe beatings and sleep deprivation, and that NSS agents threatened him with rape.

Amnesty International does not yet have any further details of Rudwan Dawod’s release, or the conditions in which he was held during his detention.

Many thanks to all who sent appeals. No further action is required.
This is the first update of UA 238/12. Further information: http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR54/038/2012/en
Name: Rudwan Dawod
Gender m/f: Male
Further information on UA: 238/12 Index: AFR 54/040/2012 Issue Date: 20 August 2012