London, 11 Jul - (ANA) - The Sudanese authorities should immediately stop the torture and ill-treatment of those detained following demonstrations since mid-June 2012 Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today. “Torture and other ill-treatment are absolutely prohibited under international law”, said Aster van Kregten, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Africa. “We call on the Sudanese authorities to ensure that every credible allegation of such abuse is subject to prompt and impartial investigations, and to ensure that the victims receive reparations.”  Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also urged the immediate and unconditional release of anyone arrested for participating in peaceful protests. Sudanese groups monitoring the arrests estimate that since June the Sudanese security forces have detained 2,000 people in connection with the youth-led protests in Khartoum and other major towns across Sudan. While the number of 2,000 detained is difficult to confirm, reports indicate that at least 100 people remain in detention in Khartoum alone. The majority are being held in National Security Services (NSS) detention centres, which are well-known for the use of ill-treatment and torture. In one of the latest crackdowns on protesters, on July 6 security forces used excessive force against a demonstration in the Sayyid Abdelrahman mosque, in the Wad Nubawi neighbourhood of Omdurman, a suburb of Khartoum.  A 26-year old student present at the protest said he was hit with rubber bullets in both legs. “When we got out, we saw the police outside the mosque,” he told Amnesty International . “So we started chanting ‘Peaceful! Peaceful’ and sat on the ground to show them we didn’t  want confrontation, but they walked toward us and fired rubber bullets and tear gas at us, and chased us inside the mosque.”  In recent days, demonstrators have also reported being attacked by pro-government students wielding sticks, knives and axes. Injured protesters are afraid to seek medical care. A security guard at the Omdurman Hospital told Amnesty International that he witnessed NSS  agents arresting wounded protesters immediately after they were discharged.  Since the protests began on June 16, Sudanese security forces have repeatedly used excessive force to disperse the demonstrations and arrested scores of peaceful protesters including students, youth activists, and journalists. Security officials have also separately arrested and detained activists, journalists, lawyers, doctors, and members of youth groups and opposition parties not directly connected to the protests. Many detainees have been released after hours or days, often after signing a statement renouncing any political activities or participation in the protests. Other individuals are detained for longer periods and face lengthy interrogations in which they are accused of being traitors, Communists, or spies; several have reported harsh treatment, including beatings and sleep-deprivation. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 July 2012----------