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 2 February 2002, officials at the College of Technological Science in Omdurman, Sudan suspended computer science student, Ms. Tahani Ibrahim Ahmed, for engaging in human rights activities. Ms. Ibrahim Ahmed is a member of the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG) student network. The twelve-month suspension came after Ms. Ibrahim Ahmed formed a local chapter of SVTG at her college. She also organized a symposium on 10 December 2001, International Human Rights Day. During the event, she spoke about women's rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

In order for Ms. Ibrahim Ahmed to be readmitted to her university program, she must sign a pledge to uphold the Student Discipline and Code of Conduct Act. The act, which was adopted this year, prohibits students from taking part in human rights and political organizing. Ms. Ibrahim Ahmed's lawyer has appealed the college administration's decision.

In January, the College of Technological Science also suspended five other students for participating in a symposium about democracy that was held last year. The following students were suspended: Adam Fadl Allah Adam (law student), Husam El-Din Abdullah (medical student), Allaa El-Din Mustafa Mohamed Ali (agriculture student), Ghosai El-Nour Mohamed Ahmed (agriculture student), and Mohamed Al-Hadi Awad Sulieman (economics student).

Human Rights Watch Africa Division describes the human rights situation in Sudan as "grim." The Sudanese government operates under a state of emergency that grants it far reaching powers to suppress dissent and interfere with the work of civil society institutions. In the last year, the government has repeatedly targeted torture treatment centers and human rights organizations. In the past two years, the Science and Human Rights Program issued several AAASHRAN alerts detailing human rights violations against the Amal Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture and members of the SVTG.

The suspensions of the students is a clear violation of several human rights standards, including those enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted without dissent by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Sudan is a State party.

(Sources of information for this case include: Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, the Arab Program for Human Rights Activities, and Human Rights Watch Africa Division.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
• Article 21: The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized.

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.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 20(1): Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
• Article 26(1): Everyone has the right to education.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Requesting that the College of Technological Sciences fully and unconditionally reinstate Tahani Ibrahim Ahmed to her program of study, as it appears that she was suspended from school for exercising her internationally recognized human rights of association and expression;
• Requesting that the university also reinstate Adam Fadl Allah Adam, Allaa El-Din Mustafa Mohamed Ali, Chosai El-Nour Mohamed Ahmed, and Mohamed Al-Hadi Awad Suliman fully and unconditionally; and
• Requesting that the government take all necessary steps to end harassment and reprisals against human rights defenders.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
People's Palace
PO Box 281
Khartoum
Sudan
Salutation: Your Excellency

Mr. Ali Osman Yasin
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum
Sudan
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister:

Mr. Mustafa Osman Ismail
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873
Khartoum
Sudan
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister:

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Khidir Haroun Ahmed
Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan to the United States
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
2210 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 (202) 667-2406
june@sudanembassyus.org
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador:

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. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are 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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