Female relatives of Mr Bushra Gamar Hussein protesting his ongoing detention

On 27 June, prominent Sudanese human rights defender Mr Bushra Gamar Hussein was released on bail. Details about the release and conditions of bail are not yet available.

On 19 June 2012, Bushra Gamar Hussein declared an open ended hunger strike in protest against his arbitrary detention despite a judge's dismissal of a call for his remand in custody. Front Line Defender's recent update dated 28 June 2012: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/18781.

Bushra Gamar Hussein is a member of the Nuba ethnic group in South Kordofan. He founded and currently chairs the South Kordofan Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO). He is the former director of the South Darfur branch of the Sudan Social Development Organisation, which works on development and human rights issues in Sudan.

On 17 June, a judge dismissed a call for the defender's remand in custody under the 1991 Sudan Penal Procedure Code. However, Bushra Gamar Hussein remains detained in the custody of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) at the State Security Prosecutor's Detention Centre in Khartoum for allegedly “working with international organisations hostile to Sudan”.

As a result of his hunger strike, the health of Bushra Gamar Hussein has seriously deteriorated. He is reported to not be fully conscious and is unable to take medication. On 24 June, the defender was taken to the Police Hospital under guard, where it is feared that he is being forcibly fed. On the same day, members of his family staged a protest in front of the State Security Prosecutor's office calling for his immediate release and denouncing his treatment in detention. The predominently women protesters were holding banners critical of the discriminatory manner he was being treated and the lack of equality before the law.

Front Line Defenders is concerned about the deteriorating health of human rights defender Bushra Gamar Hussein as a result of reported torture and ill-treatment during his arbitrary detention. Front Line Defenders urges the Sudanese authorities to carry out an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the arbitrary detention of Bushra Gamar Hussein and reports of his torture and ill-treatment in detention with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice. The authorities must also lift all restrictions imposed on Bushra Gamar Hussein so that he may be able to resume his human rights work without fear of reprisal. For more information, please see Front Line Defender's recent urgent appeal dated 30 May 2012: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/18478.

You can find additional information on the situation for human rights Defenders in Sudan. HERE