Press Release- Sudanese Human Rights Initiative Thursday, December 04, 2014 The Sudanese Human rights initiative is concerned that at least 39 men and women were fined after being convicted for causing public disturbance in an unfair and summary trial. On 2 December 2014, Christians gathered inside Evangelical church in Khartoum North for prayers to protest against illegal evictions made by some investors who alleged that they have bought the land from an unauthorized committee which was unconstitutionally appointed by the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments. The peaceful protest, which had reportedly been conducted inside the church from 20 November, was interrupted by riot police on Tuesday. According to witnesses, the police attacked the crowd, injuring many. before entering the church and indiscriminately arresting at least 39 people The Sudanese Human Rights Initiative condemns the attack by the police against peaceful religious protesters inside Evangelical Church Khartoum North. The police actions violated the basic principle to protect freedom of religion for the minority Christians in Sudan. The Police forces, accompanied by the Bhari Attorney General Prosecutor, forcibly demolished the northern gate of the church at around 7am. It has been documented2 that the police did not show any eviction order when the head of the church asked to see the court order to demolish the church.Church leaders informed the police that there is an ongoing civil case before the court of appeal and the police have to respect the law and have no right to demolish the church. Despite this, the police were accompanied by nine police vehicles and bulldozers. The Sudanese Human Rights Initiative condemns the attack by the police against peaceful religious protesters inside Evangelical Church KhartoumNorth. The police actions violated the basic principle to protect freedom of religion for the minority Christians in Sudan. Press Release- Sudanese Human Rights Initiative The 39 people who were arrested appeared before different public order courts, on the same day, all charged with causing a public disturbance. The judges in one of the courts did not allow lawyers to represent the defendants The trial lasted less than an hour. 24 of the defendants were issued with a fine of 250 Sudanese pounds and signed official documentation agreeing not reenter the church before being releasedThe detained people confirmed that they were ill-treated by the police when they were arrested and many of them alleged that they were beaten-up inside the church and also in the police station. One of the protestors was rearrested in front of the court building after being released. He was later released again when people petitioned the police to free him. Sudanese Human Rights Initiative condemns the use of excessive force by the Sudanese security forces which has been reported several times in the last month, as well as complaints by the Evangelical church community of harassment and restrictions to their right to freedom of religion Sudanese Human Rights Initiative condemns the interference of the Ministry of Guidance and Endowments and asks that they respect the order of the court and refrain from any further forced evictions to the church until the final judgment, due on 22 December 2015, is issued. The names of the people who were arrested went to the courts: 1. John Gai - Male 2. LaykMjok- Male 3. Nadeem Mohammed Mabrouk- Male 4. Sandy Laban - Female 5. Mansour Daniel- Male 6. John Jaqo- Male 7. Daniel Abram- Male 8. WajdaiKumi- Male 9. Anwar Peter Angelo- Male 10. Zakaria al-Zubayr- Male 11. Mahjoub William- Male 12. St. Vteje sage- Male 13. David Bashir- Male 14. Rahim Adam Musa- Male 15. Salah Isaac- Male 16. AstvavosIbraihim- Male 17. Mina Samir-Male 18. AmanAbrahaMale 19. Samir RaafatMale 20. Sabri Joseph-Male 21. Prisca Osman Anglo-Male 22. Mary SalahFemalePress Release- Sudanese Human Rights Initiative 23. Rita SimonFemale 24. Iman HamidFemale 25. Tahani Ali-Female 26. Star Abdulla-Female 27. Yara Moussa-Female 28. Colin Farooq-Female 29. Camellia Farooq-Female 30. Christina Farooq-Female 31. Hana Farooq-Female 32. Noor Huda Farooq-Female 33. Clara Farooq-Female 34. Jacqueline Farooq-Female 35. Emile Joseph-Female 36. Sunita Ismail Omar Bakhit-Female
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 10:48:43 +0000
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