Television cameraman Osama Ghandi and technician Hassan Saleh are currently among ten civilians being prosecuted in an in camera military court trial of mostly military officers, which began in late August 1996. Ghandi, an employee of the state-owned Sudanese Television, reportedly stated to the court on 18 September that his confession, regarding involvement in an […]
Television cameraman Osama Ghandi and technician Hassan Saleh are
currently among ten civilians being prosecuted in an in camera
military court trial of mostly military officers, which began in
late August 1996. Ghandi, an employee of the state-owned Sudanese
Television, reportedly stated to the court on 18 September that
his confession, regarding involvement in an alleged coup attempt
earlier in 1996, had been coerced under torture by military
intelligence agents. During the court proceeding, Ghandi
allegedly removed his shirt to reveal scars that were the result
of his torture. He subsequently retracted the confession.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
denied due process
apparently coerced, he and his colleague may have been prosecuted
for carrying out their professional duties as journalists
being tried by an exceptional military court, despite the fact
that they are being charged under the civilian Criminal Code
cases to civilian courts
evidence against Ghandi and Saleh that has been determined to
have been extracted under torture
Appeals To
His Excellency Lieutenant General Omar Hassan al-Bashir
President of the Republic of the Sudan
People’s Palace
PO Box 281, Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 11 71724
Mr Obeid Haj Ali
Chief Justice
Supreme Court
PO Box 763
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 11 774 063
(via Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Mr ‘Abd al-Basit Sabdarat
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Ministry of Justice
Khartoum, Sudan
Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 873
Khartoum, Sudan
c/o the Sudanese diplomatic representative in your country
the Sudanese Embassy in France
Fax: +011 331 4563 6673
(in Canada)
Embassy of the Republic of Sudan
85 Range Road
Suite 507-510
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 8J6
Tel: +1 613 235 4000/4999
Fax: +1 613 235 6880
Copies to:
Ambassador Fatih Erwa
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations
655 Third Ave, 5th floor
N.Y. 10017
Fax: +1 212 573 6160
Mr Ahmad al-Mufti
Secretary
Advisory Council for Human Rights
PO Box 302
Khartoum, Sudan
Fax: +249 11 779 173
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
