Press Release

URGENT CALL TO SAVE THE LIVES OF SUDANESE NATIONALS IN LEBANON

Date:  Fri, 23 Mar 2001 18:03:43 -0600

SHRO-Cairo Board of Trust and Executive Committee is deeply grieved with the serious and unprecedented deterioration of the Sudanese nationals' situation in Lebanon. The situation involved cases of tortures at police stations and detention centers, in addition to other persecution measures that the Lebanese authorities imposed on many Sudanese nationals in close collaboration with the Sudanese Embassy i  Beirut.

SHRO-Cairo is aware that the Sudanese nationals in question are political refugees whose residence status led to contacts with the
Lebanese law. International norms in terms of refugee conventions, however, guarantee full protection to the cases of these nationals who are victims of the gross human rights violations committed by the Government of Sudan. These violations include escalation of civil war in Sudan, unlawful conscription of students, arbitrary arrest, and tortures.  The Government of Sudan is strongly condemned for the shameless record of brutalizing its own citizens in and outside Sudan.

The case of the Sudanese in Lebanon has been appreciatively discussed by Ustaz Farouq Abu Eissa, the Secretary General of the Arab Lawyers Union, with His Excellency the President of Lebanon and many other Lebanese officials. The Arab Lawyers' Union, the Lebanese Bar Association, and the Sudanese Committee in Lebanon actively joined an international campaign by the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG), SHRO-Cairo, and many others. That urged the Unite  Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Lebanon and the Lebanese Government to release all Sudanese from jail and expedite the cases of their refuge in receiving countries.

The Lebanese Government appreciatively extended the residence of the
Sudanese in Lebanon for a short period of time. The Lebanese authorities were further urged to extend the time allowable for the Sudanese political refugees to stay in Lebanon until they would be granted political refuge in receiving countries through the UNHCR in Beirut.

On March 22, 2001, two Lebanese citizens who are not yet identified
exercised police measures and extra-judicially killed the Sudanese national Ibrahim Eltag Hussain Zedan. This savage crime testifies further to the urgent need to protect Sudanese nationals in Lebanon from street
executions, not only the arbitrary arrests, detention tortures, and the other heinous actions that all jeopardized their lives in Lebanon.

Both the Lebanese and Sudanese governments are State Parties to the
international conventions on refugees. Both governments are required by international law to protect the rights of these citizens from arbitrary arrest, torture, extradition, or any other illegal procedure or persecution.

SHRO-Cairo calls upon the Government of Lebanon to conduct an immediate investigation on the extra-judicial killing of Ibrahim Eltag, in
addition to all of the other cases of tortures as was previously reported
(See attached reports). Government must undertake the necessary investigation and prosecution of the killings and tortures the Sudanese suffered in Lebanon, compensate all victims and their families for the losses in lives and the damage ensuing, and insure their refugee status with the UNHCR.

The Government of Lebanon is equally required by international law to guarantee full protection to the residence of our Sudanese nationals in Lebanon.

SHRO-Cairo demands the Government of Sudan to stop the Sudanese
Embassy in Lebanon from pursuing any persecution measure against the
Sudanese citizens in Lebanon or elsewhere. The Organization condemns in the strongest terms possible the shameless attitude of the Embassy towards our citizens in Lebanon. SHRO-Cairo requires the Government of Sudan to issue a direct order to the Sudanese Embassy in Beirut to honor the national duties it is shamelessly abandoning, towards the Sudanese nationals in Lebanon.

The Sudanese Embassy must stop all acts of collaboration with the Lebanese authorities to persecute our citizens in Lebanon. Similar decency is equally required by international law concerning the Lebanese role.

The Sudanese Embassy in Beirut must renew the Sudanese passports
and other traveling documents as is desired by Sudanese nationals to help insure their legal stay in Lebanon. The choice of Sudanese to seek refugee status in any place on earth is not an Embassy's decision.

SHRO-Cairo strongly urges the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, the Arab Lawyers Union, the Arab Organization for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Watch (Africa), and all other human rights groups to put the necessary pressure on the Government of Lebanon to respect the rights of the Sudanese nationals in Lebanon.



SHRO-Cairo Board of Trust and Executive Committee
Cairo
March 22, 2001
==============

Original Message received from the Sudanese Committee in Lebanon, addressed to SHRO-Cairo, dated March 22, 2001.

"Furthermore to the organized persecution against Sudanese refugees in Lebanon, We inform more horrible aimed accident happen today Thursday 22nd/march 2001 at 6:30 A.M when the Sudanese refugee Ibrahim Eltag Hussain Zedan His (UNHCR) file NO (18625) born in Eldalange 1974 going to his work from Elganah square up to his work in Talaat Elniwary two Lebanese stooped him asked him to freeze they were wearing as civilians not as a policemen dressing, so he did not answer them and pass them directly without stop so they called him but he did not care then one of them get out his pistol and shot him third time in his right kidney three ballet in his kidney till its get out of his stomach without any pity as if he an animal not a human been he fall down dead at once before reached Elzahara Hospital the nearest hospital to Elgan(Elsultan Ibrahim) and they confirmed the hospital administration they are Policemen  Force and they shot this Sudanese by accident. The Sudanese embassy plied a negative role in the acciden  that should be taken. We confirm you that after the late Amnesty International report of February 26th 2001 of refugee's situation in Lebanon the Lebanese authority concentrate it power against Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers.

In the same place in Elganah the police forces (who dress as civilians) took (22) Sudanese some have been taken from inside their houses. We are depending on your effort to focus and reflect what happened in Lebanon against Sudanese asylum seekers to the national community and the all related organizations to stop the torture and injustice situatio
which facing us every moment in Lebanon. We call SHRO-CAIRO chapter to take an urgent action of Ibrahim accident. The Sudanese committee in Lebanon afraid that more accidents will happen unless an urgent procedures take place to stop persecution, killing and deporting Sudanese asylum seekers.

Best regards

Sudanese committee in Lebanon
=============================

ATTACHMENTS

URGENT APPEAL TO RELEASE SUDANESE CITIZENS FROM LEBANON PRISONS

Reports from Lebanon indicate that many Sudanese in Lebanon are
facing a difficult situation that needs the immediate attention of Sudanes  as well as non-Sudanese organizations together with the government of Lebanon, the Arab and African human rights groups, and the international community as a whole.

There is a critical need to inform the whole world on the situation of these Sudanese citizens and the abuses they are made to suffer for no reason. Most of the Sudanese in question have been charged as illegal
migrants as they entered without visa into Lebanon through Syria. The authorities did not consider the migrants as politically persecuted individuals. They were hence placed under police and prisons authority in Lebanon.

The persons listed below are in Lebanese prisons and police centers in poor health and hygienic conditions. Some prisons are under ground
buildings with tiny windows that only allow unhealthy ventilation. Some of the detention centers are controlled by the Lebanese general security except Alnabatia and Ba'abda. The authorities, it is reported, are not adequately committed to international human rights norms in dealing with the rights of the Sudanese prisoners.

They Sudanese inmates are facing many health problems. They mostly suffer from joint pains, chest infections, and chronic cough. The poor health conditions and lack in medical attention led to the death of two
Sudanese prisoners last year soon after their release from jail. One died
in hospital and the another in front of his outdoors. The Lebanese police
have tortured many other cases. Some have developed mental disorders. The situation of the prisoners is painful and is horrible.

The Sudanese in Lebanon held a meeting and established a committee that maintained a close contact with the imprisoned Sudanese and to support their cases.  The Sudan Human Rights Organization Cairo Branch, the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG), and Amnesty International established important contacts with the Sudanese Committee that is supporting the Sudanese in question. Because the situation is worsening and the government of Lebanon threatened to deport the Sudanese from prisons to the Sudan irrespective of their demand to have political refuge in or outside Lebanon via the UN office, we urge the whole world to save the Sudanese refugees
from the Lebanese jail.

We are aware of the sincere moral and humanitarian concerns that Lebanese human rights activists and progressive organizations have shown to press the Lebanese Government to release our dear Sudanese refugees from the Lebanese prison. We highly appreciate this positive attitude that has always reflected the continuous friendship between these respectful individuals and organizations and the People of Sudan.

We condemn with anger and deep concerns the blind eye the Government of Lebanon has given to the serious situation that our Sudanese brothers faced in Lebanon. We condemn the non-concern of the Government of Lebanon for the unlawful tortures the Sudanese suffered in the Lebanese police stations and prisons. We condemn in the strongest terms possible the death of two Sudanese nationals as a consequence of this savagery in Lebanon.

(*) We appeal to our Sudanese fellows and all Friends of Sudan in Lebanon and all over the world to ask for the immediate release of our
Sudanese nationals from the prisons of Lebanon. We urge them to press for the insurance of immediate refugee status to all of these Sudanese in the refugee-receiving countries through the United Nations Office in Lebanon.

(*) We ask the Government of Lebanon to establish a judicial fact finding committee to investigate the harassment, tortures, and in particular the death of the Sudanese citizens as a consequence of these horrible conditions. We ask that the findings of the committee be
publicly published worldwide. We ask the Sudanese victimized by the tortures be fairly compensated by the Government of Lebanon.

(*) We appeal to the international community to put the necessary pressure on the Government of Lebanon to treat our Sudanese citizens who are still incarcerated in the prisons of Lebanon in accordance with
international law until they are decently released

(*) We appeal to the United Nations to support the cases of these citizens, to provide humanitarian support to them, and to recognize them
as refugees who should be relocated in receiving countries according to
international norms.

Below is a list of urgent cases detained in Forn ElShibak/General Security that need immediate release.

Important Note:

The prisoners are subject to security transference from a prison to another:

(1) Chol Koagy File number in (UNHCR) 12376 detained in December /07/1999

(2) Yusif Deng Kair File number 12025 in November/11/1999

(3) Magok Deng Mangor file number 11603 in July /18/2000

(4)Yahiah Adam Ishag file number 13639

(5)Abdalla Adam Ali file number 15279

(6)Daivid Jestin Jacoth file number 16805 detained in November
/11/1999

(7)Faisal Chol Danial file number 13602 detained in May /05/2000

(8)Michael Andro Logo file number 15779 in June /05/2000

(9)Adil jobara Saad file number 15038

(10)Mohamed Gibril ElKofi file number 13460

(11)Trapol Ibrahim Lako file number 15779 in November/1999

(12)Daivid Donato Deng file number unavailable in November/1999

(13)Abd -Elrahman Achwel UNCR identity card in July 07 /2000

(14)Akwek Malith file number unavailable in July /18/2000

(15)Mario Alyab file number unavailable in February /01/2000

(16)Yahia Adam file number unavailable

(17)John Paul Lako file number unavailable in May /15/2000

(18)Maggar Alwang Ortaiga file number unavailable in April/28/2000


Detained in Mazra'a Yashoh Elmalik /General security are:

(19)James Ediward UNHCR card

(20)Simon Bahkit file number unavailable

(21)Chol Kody file number unavailable

(22)Makair Tut file number unavailable

(23)Henry Akon Deng file number unavailable in April /18/2000

(24)Adam Abubaker Adam file number unavailable

(25)Salah Mohamed Abd-Allah file number unavailable in April/01/2000

(26)Bashir Fikry file number unavailable

(27)Gelbert Kwagie file number unavailable in April/16/2000

(28)Mayom Maggar Ashik file number unavailable in
November/11/1999

(29)Michael Adam Paul file number unavailable in June /05/2000

(30)William Adam Paul file number unavailable in June/05/2000

(31)Addar Paul file number unavailable in April/05/2000


Detained in Zagharta-Tripol is:

(32)Omer Mohamed Abd-alla file number 14820


Detained in Alnabatia -General prison are:

(33)Sulaiman Mohammed Tahmeed file number unavailable


Detained in Ba 'Abda-General prison are:

(34)Abd-Allah Haroun Mohamed file number unavailable

(35)Hissain Abd-Elkarim Hassab-Allah file number unavailable


We appeal to all Sudanese and non-Sudanese individuals, groups,
and organizations to write to the Lebanese authorities to release the Sudanese citizens from prison and to facilitate their decent refuge in or
outside Lebanon.

This Appeal is addressed to:

His Excellency Kofi Anan
The United Nations Secretary General - New York

Her Excellency Mary Robinson
Human Rights Commissioner - Geneva

The African Commission on Human Rights, Banjul, The Gambia

The Arab League, Cairo

His Excellency Emile Lahoude President of Lebanon
Email: opendoor@presidency.gov.lb
Tel: +961 1 387 200 Tel: +961 1 457 111

His Excellency the Prime Minister of Lebanon
Email: marasem@pcm.gov.lb
Tel:+961 1 746 779 Tel: +961 1 746 780
Tel: +961 1 746 781

The Minister of interior
Fax: +961 1 869 813 Tel: +961 1 807 219
Tel:+ 961 1 863 360

The Minister of Justice Lebanon
Fax: +961 1 422 957 Say {Fax, please}

The {UNHCR} Lebanon Office
Fax: +961 1 373 067 Tel:+961 1 612 836
P.O.Box 7332 Email: lebbe@unhcr.ch

The Arab Organization for Human Rights, Cairo

The Arab Lawyers Union, Egypt

Ms. Jemera Rone
Human Rights Watch/Africa, New York

Amnesty International, London

All human rights groups


This appeal is signed by:

Badreldin Musa, USA
Nuraddin Manan, Sudan Human Rights Organization, Washington DC
Abubkr Sid Ahmed, United Arab Emirates
Mahgoub El-Tigani, Sudan
Mohamed Elgadi, the Group Against torture in Sudan (USA)
Murtada Albasha, USA
Elfadil Hashmi, Canada
Asma Abdel Halim, USA
Nazik Elgadal
Adlan Ahmed Abdelaziz, USA
Dr. Gerry Hale, Los Angeles, California
Dr. Sondra Hale, Los Angeles, California
Zeinab Osman Al-Hussain
Muna Khugali, UK
Manal Awad Abdel-Rahman, UK
Asma Abdelhaziz, Washington D.C.
Mayada Nuraddin, Washington D.C.
Omer Idris, Bija Congress, New Hampshire
Hashim Hassan
Ismaiel Hussain, Greece
Tamador S. Gibreel
Isam Ali, Toronto, Canada
Ibrahim Sharif, Washington D.C.
Sadig Elsheikh, USA
Saria Salah Awadalla
Ishraga Mustafa Hamid
Gamaleldin Balal
Magda Ahmed, USA
Moniem Al-Gizouli, USA
Sidgi Kaballo, UK
Jamal Mahgoub, USA
Magdoleen Abdelhalim, USA
Magdi Elobaid, USA
Abdelfatah Elnasri, UAE
Abdelrahim Mohamed, USA
Nagmedin Mahgoub, KSA
Jarah Osman, UK
Madiha Awad, UK
Osman Taha, UK
Bit-Elmina Abdelgadir, UK
Babiker Yahia, UK
Hassan Abuzaid, UK
Suliman Bakhit, USA
Angie Mahgoub, USA