Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO)

The Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) was released from detention in Khartoum on Monday 16th May. Dr Mudawi had been arrested on Sunday 8th May just hours before he was due to board a flight en route to Ireland where he was to be presented with the inaugural Front Line Award for human rights defenders by the President of Ireland Mary McAleese.

"I do thank all of those people who supported me," said Dr Mudawi, "the pressure is part of the reason for my release." Front Line is calling on the Sudanese authorities to drop all charges against him and to ensure that human rights defenders are free to engage in their peaceful and legitimate activities.  

Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is due to receive the inaugural Front Line Award from President McAleese at a ceremony in Dublin's City Hall on Friday morning (May 13th). He was selected for the award because of his courageous and inspiring work for human rights in Sudan, including in Darfur, which led to him being twice imprisoned in the last year. At 11.00 am on Sunday 8th of May he was arrested in the street in Khartoum North, hours before he was due to board a flight en route to Ireland.

"The actions of the Sudanese authorities betray their contempt for the protection of human rights," said Front Line Director Mary Lawlor, "this new arrest of Dr Mudawi is a further attempt to silence those who work for the rights of others in Sudan. They will not succeed."

Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is the Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO). SUDO, is a voluntary organization created to promote sustainable development and Human Rights. It is engaged in humanitarian activities including providing emergency services in North, South and West Darfur as well as in human rights education and development projects throughout the country. Dr Mudawi is  

Front Line is concerned for the safety of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, human rights defender and Director of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO), and Salah Mohammed Abu Alrahman, a volunteer with SUDO. Both are being held incommunicado at the National Security Centre in Khartoum.

According to the information received, Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Mr. Salah Mohammed Abu Alrahman were arrested in a small village called Kondoua (North Kordufan) on 24 January 2005. The men have allegedly been arrested for interrogation by the national security forces; they were reportedly being held at the security headquarter in Umrouaba city but have been transferred to Al Obeid, the capital of North Kurdofan State. At present, neither the family of Salah Mohammed Abu Alrahman nor that of Dr. Mudawi have been informed as to the purpose of the arrest.