Hafiz Idris Detained in Unknown Location
Human rights defender Hafiz Idris was released on Thursday, 31 August 2017 following a presidential pardon granted on 29 August 2017 in relation to criminal case no. 22/2017. Human rights defenders and defendants Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Hafiz Idris, Tasneem Taha Zaki, Abdel-mukhles Yousef Ali, Abdelhakim Noor, and Mubarak Adam Abdullah were issued a presidential pardon in relation to the case.
Hafiz Idris is a human rights defender who focuses on the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Sudan and works for their well-being.
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- 30 August 2017 : Presidential pardon issued for six HRDs
- 16 June 2017 : Trial of human rights defenders opens in Khartoum
- 19 May 2017 : Hafiz Idris beaten during interrogation
- 8 May 2017 : New Attorney General retracts decision to free human rights defenders
- 28 February 2017 : Sudan uses torture to force confession in case against Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris
- 30 December 2016 : Detention of Human Rights Defenders Continue Amid Reports of Torture and Ill-Treatment
- 25 November 2016 : Hafiz Idris Detained in Unknown Location
On 29 August 2017, human rights defenders Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Hafiz Idris, Tasneem Taha Zaki, Abdel-mukhles Yousef Ali, Abdelhakim Noor, and Mubarak Adam Abdullah were issued a presidential pardon in Khartoum. All six human rights defenders had been charged in criminal case No. 22/2017 as a result of their human rights activities.
Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is an internationally recognised human rights defender who was the winner of the inaugural 2005 Front Line Defenders Award for human rights defenders. He is the founder and Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) and was a participant in the national dialogue in Sudan in 2016. Hafiz Idris is a human rights defender who focuses on the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons in Sudan. Tasneem Taha Zaki is a human rights lawyer who provides legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses, especially youth and students in El-Fasher.
On 29 August 2017, a presidential pardon was issued for Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Hafiz Idris, Tasneem Taha Zaki, Abdel-mukhles Yousef Ali, Abdelhakim Noor, and Mubarak Adam Abdullah, all of whom were charged in a case known as criminal case No. 22/2017. Sudanese authorities released Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam in accordance with the pardon the same day. The human rights defender had been detained since 7 December 2016. At the time of writing, Hafiz Idris, who has been in detention since 24 November 2016, is still under procedural processing for release. Mubarak Adam Abdullah was also released on 29 August 2017. Abdelhakim Noor and Abdel-mukhles Yousef Ali were released on bail on 14 March 2017, while human rights lawyer Tasneem Taha Zaki was released on bail on 12 March 2017, pending charges.
The human rights defenders were facing charges which included ‘conspiracy to conduct espionage and intelligence activities in favour of foreign embassies’, ‘waging war against the state’, ‘publishing false reports’, ‘undermining the constitutional system’, ‘stirring up sectarian hatred’ and ‘running a terrorist organisation’. A number of irregularities occurred during the course of the case including the retraction of the Prosecutor General of Sudan’s decision on 26 March 2017 to release Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris on bail by the newly-appointed Attorney General. Several of the human rights defenders were subjected to incommunicado detention in unknown locations, torture and ill-treatment following their arrest.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the pardon and release of the aforementioned human rights defenders, however it reiterates its condemnation for the incommunicado detntion, torture, ill treatment and prolonged arbitrary detention of the defenders. Front Line Defenders urges the authorities to immediately release Hafiz Idris, and calls on Sudanese authorities to cease targeting all human rights defenders in Sudan and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.
On 14 June 2017, the trial of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris began in Khartoum. The two human rights defenders appeared before a judge during an opening session held in the absence of the plaintiff, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISS). Several foreign delegations and Sudanese activists attended the hearing. The next session in the trial has been scheduled for 20 July 2017. Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris are facing six charges, two of which carry either the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is an internationally recognised human rights defender who was the winner of the inaugural 2005 Front Line Defenders Award for human rights defenders. He is the founder and Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) and was a participant in the national dialogue in Sudan in 2016. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, is a Professor of Engineering at the University of Khartoum and runs his own engineering company. Hafiz Idris is a human rights defender who focuses on the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons in Sudan.
On 14 June 2017, the Northern Khartoum Court held the first session in the trial of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris. The two defenders briefly appeared before a judge in the absence of the NISS, which had requested in April 2017 to reopen investigations into their case. Another session has been scheduled for 20 July 2017. On 5 June 2017, the Sudanese State Security Prosecution office officially charged Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris with six offences, some of which carry the death penalty. The charges include publishing false reports, undermining the constitutional system, espionage, waging war against the state, stirring up sectarian hatred and running a terrorist organisation.
Front Line Defenders condemns the trial of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris, and calls on the Sudanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the human rights defenders as it believes that they are being held solely for their legitimate work on protecting and promoting human rights in Sudan.
Detained human rights defender Hafiz Idriss was subjected to physical violence during his interrogation last week by members of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). He was badly beaten after complaining during the interrogation that he was previously forced to falsely confess under severe torture.
Hafiz Idris’s human rights work focuses on the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan. He has been in detention since 24 November 2016. Sudanese authorities previously tortured the human rights defender in December 2016 and January 2017 to extract a confession that was used to bring charges against him and against human rights defender Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, who has been in detention since 7 December 2016. His torture involved inter alia electric shocks, severe kicking and hitting of sensitive parts of his abdomen on both sides.
Despite complaints and a petition made by the human rights defender and his lawyers, Sudanese authorities have failed to investigate his allegation of torture and ill-treatment in detention. On 11 May 2017, Sudanese authorities charged Hafiz Idriss and Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam with undermining the constitutional system and waging war against the State – both charges that potentially carry the death penalty. This indictment came after the recently-appointed Attorney General of Sudan, Omar Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad, retracted a decision issued by the General Prosecutor on 26 March 2017, ordering the release on bail of the human rights defenders.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned at the physical well being of Hafiz Idris and urge the Sudanese authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment, as is their obligation under international human rights law. Front Line Defenders calls upon the Sudanese authorities to take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Hafiz Idriss and Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and urges the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release them and drop all charges against them as they are being held solely as a result of their peaceful work in the defence of human rights.
On 5 May 2017, the family of human rights defenders, Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris, were informed of a decision issued by the recently-appointed Attorney General of Sudan, Omar Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad, to retract a decision issued by the General Prosecutor on 26 March 2017, ordering the release on bail of the human rights defenders.
Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is an internationally recognised human rights defender who was the winner of the inaugural 2005 Front Line Defenders Award for human rights defenders. He is the founder and Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) and was a participant in the national dialogue in Sudan in 2016. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, is a Professor of Engineering at the University of Khartoum and runs his own engineering company. Hafiz Idris is a human rights defender who focuses on the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons in Sudan.
The decision of the newly-appointed Attorney General of Sudan came on 26 April 2017 based upon a request from the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) to reopen investigations into the case of the human rights defenders. The NISS caused a delay in the release of the human rights defenders, following the order of the General Prosecutor, in order to gain time to appeal or retract the decision and keep the human rights defenders in detention. According to the decision of the recently-appointed Attorney General, the human rights defenders will now not be released on bail and serious allegations against them, which may result in capital punishment, are no longer dropped, as per the decision of the General Prosecutor. Lawyers and colleagues of the human rights defenders, such as Tasneem Ahmed Taha Zaki, are now being sought by the NISS following the decision of the newly-appointed Attorney General.
Front Line Defenders condemns the worrying regression in the case of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris, and calls on the Sudanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the human rights defenders as it believes that they are being held solely for their legitimate work on protecting and promoting human rights in Sudan.
Recent information in the case of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam reveals that Sudanese authorities tortured fellow human rights defender Hafiz Idris in detention and obtained a forced confession that might be used to charge both human rights defenders inter alia with espionage and undermining constitutional order. According to Sudanese law, the accusations against Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris could result in the death penalty.
Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is an internationally recognised human rights defender who was the winner of the inaugural 2005 Front Line Defenders Award for human rights defenders. He is the founder and Chairperson of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) and was a participant in the national dialogue in Sudan in 2016. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, is a Professor of Engineering at the University of Khartoum and runs his own engineering company. Hafiz Idris is a human rights defender who focuses on the rights and well-being of Internally Displaced Persons in Sudan.
On 15 February 2017, Sudanese security authorities transferred Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris to the office of the State Prosecutor in Amarat. Both human rights defenders will reportedly be put on trial under fabricated charges accusing them of committing crimes against the Sudanese State by providing critical information to foreign governments. Although the state controlled media is reporting such charges the lawyers of the two human rights defenders have received no written confirmation.
There is no evidence being provided against Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam or Hafiz Idris in relation to the false charges that are expected to be brought against them. The only “evidence” that the Sudanese government claims to have is based on a forced confession that was obtained through the torture of Hafiz Idris by Sudanese authorities. While in detention, Hafiz Idris was subject to torture involving inter alia electric shocks, severe kicking and hitting of sensitive parts of his abdomen on both sides which resulted in blood in his urine.
Hafiz Idris was arrested on 24 November 2016 by members of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and forcibly transferred to an unknown location. Almost two weeks later, Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam was arrested at the University of Khartoum along with his longtime driver, Adam El Sheikh Mukhtar. A few days after their arrest on 12 December 2016, Nora Abaid, an accountant from Dr. Mudawi’s engineering company – Lambda Engineering, was arrested by NISS agents who approached her in an unmarked car. Both Adam El Sheikh Mukhrat and Nora Abaid are still being detained by the NISS. According to sources, both are being held as a form of pressure against Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam in relation to the State’s case against him. The accusations against Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and Hafiz Idris of committing crimes against the State such as espionage and undermining the constitutional order mean that they could face death penalty charges according to Article 27 of the Sudanese Criminal Act 1991 that is based on Sharia law.
There are serious concerns for the health of Hafiz Idris. Although Dr. Mudawi ended his hunger strike there remain concerns about his health.
Front Line Defenders calls on the Sudanese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Hafiz Idris, Adam El Sheikh Mukhrat and Nora Abaid, and all other detainees related to this case as it believes that they are all being held solely for legitimate work on protecting and promoting human rights in Sudan. Front Line Defenders also calls on the Sudanese authorities to carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment against Hafiz idris and Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, with a view to publishing the results and bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards.
Friends and lawyers of detained human rights defender Mr Hafiz Idris confirmed that he was recently taken into hospital after reportedly being tortured and ill-treated in detention.
Mr Hafiz Idris, 40 years old, is a human rights defender who works to defend the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan . He was arrested on 24 November in Khartoum has been held without charge or access to his family and lawyer.
Authorities in Sudan have escalated their crackdown on human rights defenders, peaceful protesters and journalists over the past few weeks. On 27 December, the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) arrested human rights lawyer Ms Tasneem Ahmed Taha Zaki from her office in El Fasher, Darfur. She is a human rights lawyer who provides legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses, especially youth and students in El Fasher. Following her arrest, Ms. Tasneem was quickly transferred to Khartoum and was deprived of any contact with her family. Authorities did not notify the Bar Association about her arrest as stipulated in the Sudanese Advocates Law.
The physical integrity and security of the internationally recognised human rights defender Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is source of great concern amid recent testimonies and reports about torture and ill-treatment of detained activists in Sudan. Dr. Mudawi was arrested at the University of Khartoum on 7 December with his longtime driver, Adam El Sheikh Mukhtar. On 12 December, Nora Abaid, an accountant from Dr. Mudawi’s engineering company, Lambda Engineering, was arrested by NISS agents who approached her in an unmarked car. They all continue to be under incommunicado detention. Under the 2010 National Security Act (NSA), detainees can be held for up to four and a half months without judicial review.
Front Line Defenders urges the Sudanese authorities to:disclose information about the medical situation of human rights defender Mr Hafiz Idris and conduct a thorough and impartial investigattion into allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned at the physical well being of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, Ms Tasneem Ahmed Taha Zaki and other detained human rights defenders and calls upon the Sudanese authorities to take all necessary measures to guarantee their physical and psychological integrity and security and ensures that they have immediate and unfettered access to their families and lawyers.
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.
Download the Urgent Appeal (PDF)
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.
Front Line Defenders expresses its grave concern at the arrest and detention of Hafiz Idris and is deeply worried about his physical integrity, in particular given the trend of ill-treatment and torture of activists whilst detained in Sudan. It also expresses its 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.
Front Line Defenders urges 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.
