Growing concern for safety of Sudan opposition leader in custody

Thursday 26 July 2007 06:55.

By Wasil Ali

July 25, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Supporters of an opposition party in Sudan expressed concern over the well being of their top leaders arrested by security services two weeks ago amid allegations of torture.

Mubarak al-Fadil

Sudanese security services arrested Mubarak al-Fadil, leader of the Umma Reform and Renewal opposition party and his deputy over allegations of planning sabotage actions in the country.

A statement issued by Al-Fadil office slammed the government for not allowing his family and attorney to visit him in prison.

According to the statement three requests have been made to the authorities requesting permission to visit Al-Fadil but that they have received no response as of yet. Several members of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) sought to assist Al-Fadil’s family in securing a visit but were turned down as well.

Sudan banned all media reporting on the case of 17 people accused of trying to overthrow the government.

The government issued a decree establishing a commission to investigate the allegations against Al-Fadil and the other detainees.

However the statement from Al-Fadil’s office claim that a member of the commission informed his attorney that he has not been formally notified by the government to proceed with the investigation.

Sudan’s announcement of thwarting the coup attempt was received with skepticism due to the vague nature of the plot.

Former Sudanese Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Umma party Sadiq al-Mahdi told Sudan Tribune that “this is the fifth time we hear from the government about an alleged coup attempt through the years that turns out to be nothing”.

Al-Mahdi noted that in each of these instances the Sudanese government talks about “incriminating evidence and stocks of weapons found but no details are provided”.

Sudanese officials made contradictory statements regarding the nature of the plot and the extent of foreign involvement.

Sudan said Al-Fadil smuggled weapons into the capital Khartoum in preparation for a coup.

But Sudan’s presidential adviser Nafi Ali Nafi admitted to reporters later that no weapons have been found in association with the alleged plot.

Initially Sudanese authorities accused Al-Fadil of being the mastermind of a sabotage plot in Khartoum and said that he sought support from Libya and the US.

But then Sudanese officials denied any foreign involvement and upgraded charges against Al-Fadil to a full blown coup attempt and said that political assassinations was part of the plot.

Al-Fadil’s supporters speaking to Sudan Tribune said they received information that Al-Fadil and the former Minister of Tourism, Abdel Jelil al-Basha were subject to torture and verbal abuse by security services.

“They [Sudan’s Security services] wanted to force a televised confession from him [Al-Fadil] but he refused so they resorted to torture which left marks on his body. This is why they have not allowed any visits” said one supporter who spoke on condition of anonymity.

However there was no independent confirmation of these allegations.

Al-Fadil was appointed as a presidential adviser for economic affairs in 2002 but was sacked after making contacts with the United States without Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir’s consent.

(ST)