A/HRC/15/57 Serious concerns remain regarding the tightening of freedom of expression and a backlash against human rights defenders since the indictment of the President of the Sudan by the International Criminal Court in March 2009. As a consequence, there continues to be limited activity among human rights defenders and many activists have remained outside of Sudan for fear of harassment and arrest should they return. The period immediately leading up to the elections in April 2010 saw an easing of restrictions on the freedom of expression, but these restrictions were again tightened following the elections. situation on the ground. In August 2009, a Darfurian man employed by the Khartoum office of the Darfur Transitional Authority was arrested by the NISS and detained until 16 January 2010 for monitoring the human rights situation in Darfur. He was again arrested on 28 March 2010 and detained for several hours On 25 October 2009, the chairperson of the Darfur Students Association of Khartoum University was arrested and allegedly tortured by the NISS. On the same day, NISS personnel reportedly entered the university and beat his wife, also a student of the university. On 22 February 2010, the Director of an INGO in Nyala, South Darfur was arrested by the NISS. He was released two days later but was threatened with re-arrest if he revealed his experience in NISS custody. He was also instructed to furnish the intelligence service with information on activities of all of the INGOs operating in Nyala. In late April 2010, three students affiliated with the United Popular Front, a student group linked with the Sudan Liberation Movement Abdul Wahid faction, were arrested by the NISS. They were released on 16 May 2010. The reasons for their arrest remain unclear but it was likely due to their political activities in the Sudanese universities. There has been a wave of arrests of UPF students since April 2009 when the group expressed support for the indictment of the President by the ICC. Response of the Government of Sudan The Government reports of no cases of human rights defenders being subjected to arbitrary detention, harassment or physical abuse. It mentions that NGOs have continued their work without any interference or harassment from the Government. 31