Take Action for Hafiz Idris

Your  Excellency,

On 24 November at 10:00 am, five plain-clothed members of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Mr. Hafiz Idris from the house of one of his relatives in Khartoum and forcibly transferred him to an unknown location. The human rights defender may be at risk of torture and is being held without charges. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Hafiz Idris, 40 years old, is a human rights defender who focuses on the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sudan and works for their well-being.

Hafiz Idris lives in Abushouk IDP camp in Al-Fasher, Darfur. He had traveled to Khartoum for the purpose of receiving medical treatment when, on 24 November, he was arrested from the house of one his relatives in Khartoum. During his arrest, members of the NISS covered his face and forcibly transferred him to an unknown location.

I express grave concern at the arrest and detention of Hafiz Idris and am deeply worried about his physical integrity, in particular given the trend of ill-treatment and torture of activists whilst detained in Sudan. I also express concern at the increased use of arbitrary detention by the NISS as a tool for the repression of the work of human rights defenders in Sudan.

I urge the authorities in the Republic of the Sudan to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Hafiz Idris as Front Line Defenders believes that he is being held solely as a result of his legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;

2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Hafiz Idris;

3. Ensure Hafiz Idris's immediate and unfettered access to his family and lawyer;

4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the Republic of the Sudan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Sincerely,