A/HRC/36/63
B.
Continued detention of a UNAMID staff member
26.
The Independent Expert was informed about the case of Adam Abdulbari, a
language assistant at UNAMID, who was arrested in Darfur by the national security
officers on 23 November 2016 and transferred immediately to the National Security Service
headquarters in Khartoum, where he was held in custody. In March 2017, Mr. Abdulbari
was transferred to the Alnuza police station, where he remains detained under the
supervision of the Attorney General for Crimes against the State. The UNAMID staff
member is accused of undermining the constitutional system, waging war against the State,
espionage against the country and terrorism.
27.
The Independent Expert is concerned by the non-compliance by the Government of
the Sudan with the provisions of the status-of-forces agreement between the United Nations
and host countries. He calls on the Sudanese authorities to release Mr. Abdulbari as it
appears that he is being detained for his work with UNAMID.
C.
Excessive use of force against Darfuri students in Khartoum and El
Gezira States
28.
The Independent Expert was made aware of incidents of attacks and arrests targeting
Darfuri students in Khartoum and El Gezira States. According to information received, on
27 January 2017, officers of the National Security Service raided a student dormitory in Um
Badda district in Omdurman housing mainly Darfuri students. Five of them were reportedly
arrested for unknown reasons. On 21 March 2017, officers arrested 13 Darfuri students
from the University of Holy Qur’an and Islamic Sciences in El Gezira State and used tear
gas and batons to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by them to protest against
the university administration’s refusal to honour an agreement exempting the Darfuri
students from paying tuition fees. The following day, officers raided the Darfuri students’
residence and arrested six of them. On 15 May 2017, officers and pro-government students
attacked an assembly organized by the Darfuri student union alliance at Al-Azahri
University, preventing the delivery of a speech calling for the full implementation of a feeexemption policy for Darfuri students agreed to by the Government of the Sudan during the
peace talks in 2006 and 2011. Twenty students were arrested and taken to the central police
station in Khartoum Bahri, where a case was filed against them for breach of public peace
and public. The case was referred to the Central Bahri Public Order Court on 16 May and
dismissed owing to lack of evidence.
29.
The independent Expert expresses concern about the excessive use of force by the
Sudanese authorities as a means to restrict the rights to freedom of expression, association
and assembly, which are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Sudan and international
human rights treaties to which the Sudan is a party.
D.
Restrictions on freedom of religion
30.
Another area of concern that the Independent Expert discussed with the relevant
stakeholders includes the need to ensure the protection of the freedom of religion, with
particular reference to the demolition of churches and places of worship by the national
security forces. On 7 May 2017, the Sudanese authorities destroyed the Sudanese Church of
Christ building in the Soba al-Aradi area of Khartoum. On 17 May 2017, the Sudanese
Church of Christ building in Agadisia in Khartoum was also demolished. While the
Government alleged that the demolition fell under the authority of planning authorities and
also included also mosques, schools and homes that had been randomly and disorderly
constructed, the Independent Expert has yet to receive a list of mosques, homes and schools
that were demolished in those areas.
31.
The National Security Service has also been used to intimidate and arrest or detain
Christian religious leaders. The Independent Expert had raised the issue in his discussions
with government officials as a legitimate concern, which the Government of the Sudan
needs to pay attention to, in view of the importance of the freedom of religion in a
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