Kajbar Campaigners Released [0]

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest and detention of human rights defenders Al Khatib Mohamed Elsir, Maisara Izzeldin Mohamed Munowar, Rami Hassan Farah, Faroug Nuri, Hisham Abbas, Daoud Suliman, Isam Mohamed Fagir, Nazmi Mohamed Hamid and his brother Nayif Mohamed Hamid, between 27 and 29 August 2007. All are members of the Committee against the Kajbar Dam, a body established to lobby against the construction of the Kajbar Dam, in the Nubian area of northern Sudan. Front Line has previously expressed concern about the arrest of members of the Kajbar Dam Committee, most recently on 21 August 2007.

Further information

Between 27 and 29 August 2007, Al Khatib Mohamed Elsir, Maisara Izzeldin Mohamed Munowar, Faroug Nuri, Hisham Abbas, Nazmi Mohamed Hamid and his brother Nayif Mohamed Hamid were arrested by the security forces and detained in Dongola, the capital of the Northern Province Wilaya. Rami Hassan, Farah Daoud Suliman, and Isam Mohamed Fagir were also arrested and are in detention in the town of Karma. According to reports, Secretary and spokesperson of the Kajbar Committee Osman Ibrahim, along with Ezzeldeen Idris, Abdel Hakim Nasor, Mamoun Abdel Aziz, Abdel Razig and Samil Mohamed Samil were subjected to intimidation and harassment by the security forces. They were all arrested and detained for a short time before being released.

Osman Ibrahim, was previously arrested on 20 July 2007 and conditionally released from Dabek prison, North of Khartoum on 19 August 2007. He had been arrested, along with numerous other human rights defenders, 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. No reason was given for his detention and his release, and that of fellow committee members, 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. Front Line is extremely concerned that the afore-mentioned events is part of an ongoing campaign against those human rights defenders who are reporting or are in peaceful opposition to the construction of the Kajbar Dam.