Front Line welcomes the release of human rights defenders Osman Ibrahim, Alam Aldeen Abd Alghni, Emad Merghni Seed Ahmed, Abd Allah Abd Alghume, Mugahid Mohamed Abdalla and Osman Shammat on 19 August 2007. However, Front Line remains deeply concerned at the ongoing detention of human rights defender and University lecturer Dr Mohammed Julal Hashim. Dr Mohammed Julal Hashim was arrested on 15 June 2007. He received his last visit from his family two weeks ago when he was being detained in Debek Prison, north Khartoum, but it is believed that he may have been transferred to the national security wing of Kober Prison in Khartoum North. Reports state that he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure. Front Line is concerned that he may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Further information

On 19 August 2007 at approximately 3:00pm, Osman Ibrahim, Alam Aldeen Abd Alghni, Emad Merghni Seed Ahmed, Abd Allah Abd Alghume, Mugahid Mohamed Abdalla and Osman Shammat were released from Dabak prison, North of Khartoum. They had all been arrested following the violent dispersal by security forces of a peaceful demonstration in Farraig village against the construction of the Kajbar Dam, on 13 June 2007 apart from Osman Ibrahim the spokesperson of the Committee against the Kajbar Dam who was arrested on 20 July 2007.

No reason was given for their detention and their release was conditional on signing a document whereby they agree to abide by certain conditions, namely to refrain from engaging in further political activities against the Kajbar Dam. Dr Mohamed Jalal Ahmed Hashim refused to sign a statement which would have committed him not to engage in any activity relating to the Kajbar Dam and to ‘general political activities’ or criticise any state personalities.

Dr Mohammed Julal Hashim was arrested on 15 June 2007. He received his last visit from his family two weeks ago when he was being detained in Debek Prison, north Khartoum, but it is believed that he may have been transferred to the national security wing of Kober Prison in Khartoum North. Reports state that he suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure. Front Line is concerned that he may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment. Some of those human rights defenders who were released said that they had not been physically ill-treated or tortured but that they did receive psychological ill-treatment, for example when national security personnel discussed torturing them during their hearing.

Front Line is concerned that the ongoing detention of Dr Mohammed Julal Hashim forms part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders who are reporting or are in opposition to the construction of the Kajbar Dam.