AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 29 March 2001 Dr Nagib Nagmeldin was released from prison. Amnesty International reports that he was not ill treated in detention.

On 11 March 2001, Sudanese security services detained Dr. Nagib Nagmeldin, Director of the Amel Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and Violence in Khartoum. He was arrested along with two of his colleagues from the Amel Center, Mr. Fatih Abdel Rahman and Mrs. Zienab Omer Ahmed. Security services interrogated Mr. Abdel and Mrs. Omer for several hours and both were released later that evening.

Dr. Nagmeldin was apparently arrested on suspicion of giving political information to contacts outside Sudan. While in detention, security services interrogated him about the Amel Center's training courses for students and doctors. The Amel Center, which was established in November 2000, provides free medical treatment and counseling for victims of human rights abuse. It is the first of its kind to be established in Sudan.

Before he was released, Sudanese security forces compelled Dr Nagmeldin to sign a declaration confirming that his arrest was linked to an investigation into technical problems within the Amel Center. He was also compelled to sign a written declaration promising that he would not engage in any unlawful activities.

In a raid following Dr. Nagmeldin's arrest, the Security services seized patient records from the Amel Center and then closed the center down. After Dr. Nagmeldin's release, security forces reportedly stated that the seized material, which includes computers and the patient files, would be returned on 7 April 2001. Dr. Nagmeldin went to the security services headquarters to reclaim the material on 7 April and again on 9 April. At each visit, members of the security service questioned him further. None of the materials have been handed back to him and the Amel Center remains closed.

(Sources of information for this case include the El-Nadim Center for the Management & Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence in Cairo Egypt and Amnesty International.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 7: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Article 9(1): Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
• Article 9(2): Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his [or her] arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him [or her].
• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Article 12: (1): The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. (2): The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for: (c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases; (d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

The Human Rights Defenders Declaration

• Article 11: Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to the lawful exercise of his or her occupation or profession.
• Article 12(2): The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights].
• Article 7: Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to develop and discuss new human rights ideas and principles and to advocate their acceptance.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
• Article 05: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Article 09: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telegrams, faxes, airmail letters or emails:

• Welcoming the release of Dr. Nagib Nagmeldin;
• Urging the return of all patient files and office equipment and the reopening of the Amel Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and Violence

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
Peoples' Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: 011 24911 787676 or 011 24911 783223


Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim Mohamed
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
2210 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 202 667 2406

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6796; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals re to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

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