Press
Release
VERY
URGENT APPEAL TO RELEASE SUDANESE NATIONALS FROM LEBANON PRISONS
Dr. Mahgoub al-Tigani
11/12/00
Reports from Lebanon
indicate that many Sudanese in Lebanon are facing a difficult situation
that needs the immediate attention of Sudanese as well as non-Sudanese
organizations together with the government of Lebanon, theArab 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.
The 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 other 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 deal 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:
- Chol Koagy
File number in (UNHCR) 12376 detained in December /07/1999
- Yusif Deng
Kair File number 12025 in November /11/1999
- Magok Deng
Mangor file number 11603 in July /18/2000
- Yahiah Adam
Ishag file number 13639
- Abdalla Adam
Ali file number 15279
- Daivid Jestin
Jacoth file number 16805 detained in November /11/1999
- Faisal Chol
Danial file number 13602 detained in May /05/2000
- Michael Andro
Logo file number 15779 in June /05/2000
- Adil jobara
Saad file number 15038
- Mohamed Gibril
ElKofi file number 13460
- Trapol Ibrahim
Lako file number 15779 in November/1999
- Daivid Donato
Deng file number unavailable in November/1999
- Abd -Elrahman
Achwel UNCR identity card in July 07 /2000
- Akwek Malith
file number unavailable in July /18/2000
- Mario Alyab
file number unavailable in February /01/2000
- Yahia Adam
file number unavailable
- John Paul Lako
file number unavailable in May /15/2000
- Maggar Alwang
Ortaiga file number unavailable in April/28/2000
Detained in Mazra'a
Yashoh Elmalik /General security are:
- James Ediward
UNHCR card
- Simon Bahkit
file number unavailable
- Chol Kody file
number unavailable
- Makair Tut
file number unavailable
- Henry Akon
Deng file number unavailable in April /18/2000
- Adam Abubaker
Adam file number unavailable
- Salah Mohamed
Abd-Allah file number unavailable in April/01/2000
- Bashir Fikry
file number unavailable
- Gelbert Kwagie
file number unavailable in April/16/2000
- Mayom Maggar
Ashik file number unavailable in November/11/1999
- Michael Adam
Paul file number unavailable in June /05/2000
- William Adam
Paul file number unavailable in June/05/2000
- Addar Paul
file number unavailable in April/05/2000
Detained in Zagharta-Tripol:
- Omer Mohamed
Abd-alla file number 14820
Detained in Alnabatia
-General prison:
- Sulaiman Mohammed
Tahmeed file number unavailable
Detained in Ba
'Abda-General prison:
- Abd-Allah
Haroun Mohamed file number unavailable
- 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 Human Rights Organization Cairo Branch
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
Jara Osman, UK
Madiha Awad, UK
Iman Ismail
Lomumba Eman, Canada
Saif Saied Abdalrhim, Sudan Human Rights Organization (UK)
Gatbel Chamjock, TN, USA
Daniel Gatluak Wal, USA
Jacob Thiyang Bol, USA
Jauid Chuang, USA
Gatwech K. Ring, USA
David K. Paduel, USA
Chul Yat, USA
Daniel Buanxchol, USA
Dech Jiokthiang, USA
Peter Pal Bol, USA
Sisto Olur Erista
Nasir Elfouli
Rasha Eltigani
Marlyn Tadros, Egypt
