Case History: Amin Mekki Medani
On 9 April the human rights defender Mr Amin Mekki Medani was released after the Minister of Justice decided to freeze the case against him and the chairman of the Sudanese opposition umbrella group – the National Consensus Forces (NCF) – Mr Faruq Abu Eisa pursuant to his powers under Article 58 of the 1991 Criminal Procedure Law.
Amin Mekki Medani is a prominent lawyer and human rights defender. He is the president of the Confederation of Sudanese Civil Society, Vice President of Civil Society Initiative, and former President of the Sudan Human Rights Monitor (SHRM). He served as head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) office in the West Bank and Gaza, Chief of Mission of the OHCHR in Zagreb, Croatia, legal advisor to the Special Representative of the U.N Secretary-General in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, and a Regional Representative for the OHCHR in Beirut, Lebanon. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in comparative Criminal Law.
On 9 April the human rights defender Mr Amin Mekki Medani was released after the Minister of Justice decided to freeze the case against him and the chairman of the Sudanese opposition umbrella group – the National Consensus Forces (NCF) – Mr Faruq Abu Eisa pursuant to his powers under Article 58 of the 1991 Criminal Procedure Law.
The Special Anti-Terrorism Court in Khartoum began the trial against Medani on 23 Febuary 2015, on charges of “undermining the constitutional system” and “waging war against the state”, both of which are punishable by the death penalty. The human rights defender had been detained incommunicado until 21 December 2014, following his arrest with Abu Eisa, by National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on 6 December 2014. The arrest of Amin Medani was part of a government campaign against the 'Sudan Call', signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 3 December 2014 by representatives from political opposition groups, as well as Civil Society Initiative, represented by Amin Medani. The “Sudan Call” is a declaration on the “Establishment of a State of Citizenship and Democracy”, with the aim of ending wars and conflicts, responding to humanitarian issues, examining the economic situation in Sudan, strengthening the rule of law, and initiating a dialogue on democratic transformation.
On 30 March 2015, the Special Anti-Terrorism Court in Khartoum resumed the trial of the human rights defender Mr Amin Mekki Medani. The Court denied the release of the 76 year-old human rights defender, despite his critical health condition. His trial began on 23 Febuary 2015 and his next hearing hearing is set for 2 April 2015.
Despite Medani's long history of work in both local and international human rights, the government continues to detain and try him at will. On 6 December 2014, National Intelligence and Security Services arrested Medani along with the chairman of the Sudanese opposition umbrella group – the National Consensus Forces (NCF) – Mr Faruq Abu Eisa. Medani was held incommunicado until 21 December 2014.
Authorities charged the human rights lawyer with “undermining the constitutional system” and “waging war against the state”, both of which are punishable by death in Sudan. The nature of his charges landed Medani in the country's "anti-terrorism courts." The Sudanese authorities have likened civil rights activism to terrorism and democratic reform to "war against the state" in their persecution of Medani.
Compounding the danger already facing Medani, Sudan's anti-terrorism courts have a history of negligence and refusal to uphold detainee and prisoner rights. Judges have rejected requests from individuals facing charges to consult in private with lawyers of their choice, and routinely refuse to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment. These courts have sentenced more than 100 people to death.
The arrest of Medani is part of a government campaign against the 'Sudan Call', signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 3 December 2014 by representatives from political opposition groups, as well as Civil Society Initiative, represented by Medani. The “Sudan Call” is a declaration on the “Establishment of a State of Citizenship and Democracy”, with the aim of ending wars and conflicts, responding to humanitarian issues, examining the economic situation in Sudan, strengthening the rule of law, and initiating a dialogue on democratic transformation.
On 6 December 2014, National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) officials arrested Mr Amin Mekki Medani inside his house in Khartoum, without a warrant or reason for his arrest. The human rights defender was moved to an undisclosed location, and his family members have not been informed of his whereabouts.
The arrest of Amin Medani is believed to be part of a government campaign against the 'Sudan Call', a declaration on the “Establishment of a State of Citizenship and Democracy” with the aim to end wars and conflicts, respond to humanitarian issues, examine the economic situation, strengthen the rule of law, and initiate dialogue on democratic transformation. The Sudan Call was signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on 3 December 2014 by representatives from political opposition groups, as well as Civil Society Initiative, represented by Amin Medani.
Amin Medani was arrested shortly after his return from Addis Ababa. Reportedly, the human rights defender who is 76 years old and suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes, was prevented from taking his medication by NISS at the time of his arrest.
