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Darfur Consortium urges that due process be accorded detained Darfur negotiator
(NEW YORK, September 29, 2023) - In a statement issued in Kampala today, the Darfur Consortium expressed concern for the safety and personal security of Abulgasim Ahmed Abulgasim, a Darfurian expatriate who has been residing in Saudi Arabia for about 20 years. He was deported from Saudi Arabia late on Thursday night and is now reportedly in the custody of the Sudanese authorities.
Mr. Abulgasim, a political opponent of the Sudanese government, was a member of the negotiating team for the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), during the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks in Abuja. He originates from Kutum area in North Darfur. It is understood that Mr. Abulgasim was arrested further to his participation in a public panel organised by the Sudanese Embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, earlier this week on the implications of UN Security Council Resolution 1706 (2006). During this panel he is said to have expressed support for the decision of the UN body and the deployment of international troops to protect civilian populations in Darfur.
Human rights organisations have expressed grave concern that Mr. Abulgasim has been forcibly returned to Sudan and is now at risk of being subjected to ill-treatment, torture and incommunicado detention.
The Darfur Consortium urges that the full protection of international human rights law, as provided for in Sudan’s law and Interim Constitution, be accorded to Mr. Abulgasim, in particular, the right to be advised of the reasons for his deportation and detention, and the nature of any charges against him. He must also be permitted to challenge the basis for his deportation and detention, and released if so ordered. In the immediate term Mr. Abulgasim must be permitted access to a lawyer of his choice, and to receive any medical attention which he requires.
The Darfur Consortium represents over forty Africa-based and Africa-focused civil society organisations working together to promote a just, peaceful and sustainable end to the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur.
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Member Organizations:
Action Professionals Association for the People
Aegis Trust Rwanda
African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies
African Center for Development
African Society of International and Comparative Law
African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET)
The Ahueni Foundation
Alliances for Africa
Amman Centre for Human Rights Studies
Andalus Institute for Tolerance
Anti-Slavery International
Arab Program for Human Rights Activists
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE)
Centre for Research Education and Development of Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights (CREDO)
Citizens for Global Solutions
Conseil national pour les libertés en Tunisie
Darfur Alert Coalition
Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development
Darfur Relief and Documentation Centre
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
La Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)
Femmes Africa Solidarité
Human Rights Centre, University of Pretoria
Human Rights First
Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)
Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa
Inter-African Union for Human Rights (UIDH)
Interights
International Commission of Jurists
International Refugee Rights Initiative
Justice Africa
Justice and Peace Commission
Lawyers for Human Rights
Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections
Legal Resources Consortium-Nigeria
Ligue Tunisienne des Droits de l'Homme
Minority Rights Group
National Association of Seadogs
Open Society Justice Initiative
Pan-African Movement
People Against Injustice (PAIN)
Rencontre Africaine Pour la Defense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO)
Sudan Organization Against Torture
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
Sudanese Refugee Association in South Africa
Syrian Organization for Human Rights
Universal Human Rights Network
WARIPNET
World Organization Against Torture
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