Home Tags Posts tagged with "sudan protests"

sudan protests

0
Image source: Twitter

Twenty nine intelligence officers have been sentenced to death in Sudan for the torture and killing of Ahmad al-Khair, a 36-year-old teacher.

Ahmad al-Khair, a teacher in Khashm al-Qirba, in the eastern state of Kassala, was killed in custody on February 1, during protests that led to the overthrow of the Bashir regime.

These are the first sentences handed down over the crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the months before Omar al-Bashir was toppled in April.

The prosecution said the death sentences were a just punishment.

After the sentencing, the judge asked Ahmad al-Khair’s brother, Sa’d, whether he wanted the 29 men to be pardoned – but he said he wanted them to be executed instead.

A lawyer for the defense said he would appeal.

The court found that Ahmad Al-Khair was beaten and tortured to death by the officers at a detention center in the eastern state of Kassala.

Under the former President Omar al-Bashir, Sudan enforced the death penalty, and two people were executed in 2018.

Sudan Coup: Protesters Demand Full Dismantling of “Deep State” Left Behind by Ousted President Omar Al-Bashir

Mariam Ibrahim: Sudan apostasy woman to campaign against religious persecution

Ahmad Al-Khair’s case drew widespread attention in the country, and his killing fuelled the protests against the 75-year-old Omar al-Bashir. A huge crowd rallied outside the court in Omdurman, the twin city of the capital, Khartoum, to hear the verdict.

At least 170 people were killed during the months-long crackdown against the protest movement. Omar al-Bashir was eventually overthrown by the military, 30 years after he took power in a coup.

Earlier this month, the former leader was sentenced to two years for corruption. The court ruled that Omar al-Bashir should serve the sentence in a correctional facility, as he was too old to be in prison.

The corruption case was linked to a $25 million cash payment he received from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Omar al-Bashir also faces other charges – including some related to the 1989 coup that brought him to power, along with genocide and the killing of protesters.

Omar al-Bashir claimed the payments were made as part of Sudan’s strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, and were “not used for private interests but as donations”.

0

Thousands of protesters in Sudan have demanded the full dismantling of the “deep state” left behind by ousted leader Omar al-Bashir.

On April 11, President Omar al-Bashir was toppled by the army after 30 years in power and a military council has pledged elections in two-years time.

From December 2018 onwards, Omar al-Bashir faced large-scale protests which demanded his removal from power.

However, protesters remain camped outside army HQ in the capital, Khartoum, demanding a civilian administration.

Reports on April 15 said there had been efforts to disperse the sit-in but protesters joined hands and troops stepped back from a confrontation.

The crowd chanted “Freedom” and “Revolution”, and appealed to soldiers to protect them, witnesses said.

Mariam Ibrahim: Sudan apostasy woman to campaign against religious persecution

Ahmed Mohamed Meets Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum

The Sudanese Professionals’ Association (SPA) which has spearheaded the protests, urged supporters to foil any attempt to disperse the sit-in.

“We hope that everyone will head immediately to the areas of the sit-in to protect your revolution and your accomplishments,” the group said in a statement.

The SPA was formed in 2016 and includes an array of professional groups including doctors, lawyers, journalists, university professors and engineers.

The pro-opposition umbrella group says it was established to counter Sudan’s mainstream trade unions which stood accused of being pro-government.

In 2018, with inflation rising and the value of the national currency falling, the SPA was at the forefront of campaigning for a national minimum wage.

On April 14, the transitional military council sought to appease protest leaders, telling them that key figures from the former government had been arrested. It is not clear who those officials are.

A military spokesman also promised not to disperse protesters and said the council was “ready to implement” whatever civilian government the opposition parties agreed.

In another development, 13 people were reportedly killed in an armed attack on protesters in the troubled region of South Darfur over the weekend.

“Gunmen” attacked the anti-government protest at a camp for displaced people about 10 miles east of the regional capital, Nyala, according to the privately owned Darfur 24 news website.

Omar al-Bashir has been indicted on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur by the International Criminal Court. He denies any wrongdoing.

Coup leader Defense Minister Awad Ibn Auf announced the military would oversee a two-year transitional period followed by elections and imposed a three-month state of emergency.

© © 2011 - 2023 BelleNews.com