Front Line is concerned following reports that the registration for the Khartoum Centre for Human Rights and Environmental Development (KCHRED) has been cancelled and that the organisation's bank account has been frozen. The KCHRED has most recently spoken out against the lack of respect for fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, shown by the Government of National Unity (GNU) and its supporting offices, including the pre-print censorship practiced by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) since early 2008.

Further Information

On 1 March 2009, the Minister of Social Affairs of Khartoum State issued Ministerial Decree number 2/2009 approving the recommendation made by the Humanitarian Assistance Committee (HAC) for Khartoum State to cancel the KCHRED's registration. Since then, NISS guards have prevented some staff members of the KCHRED from accessing the office to collect their belongings. Previously, on 19 February 2009, the bank account of the KCHRED had been frozen by HAC. Furthermore, during the last year, the NISS targeted the KCHRED, interrogating and threatening its staff, and raiding its offices.

There has been an increase in harassment against human rights defenders in Sudan since 14 July 2008, when the International Criminal Court (ICC) made a request for an arrest warrant to be issued against President Omar Al Bashir for accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Threats have allegedly been made by the NISS against human rights defenders who support the stance of the ICC and their family members. On 4 March 2009, the arrest warrant against President Omar Al Bashir was issued by the ICC.

Front Line believes that the cancellation of the KCHRED's registration and the freezing of its bank account are directly related to its work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned that this forms part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Sudan.