03/07/2012
Arrest of Darfur Bar Association members of concern to IBAHRI
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) is concerned by the arrest and detention of four members of the Darfur Bar Association on 1 July 2012 in Khartoum, Sudan.
The head of the Darfur Bar Association, Mohamed Abdella Al-Douma, was arrested along with Mrs Rehab El-Fadel Sharif, Mrs Rashida Ansari and Mr Jibril Hamid Hassabou. They were arrested by government security forces at a press conference where Mr Al-Douma was briefing journalists on the case of human rights activist Victor Bushra Gamal, who had been detained by Sudanese security forces for over one year. The Sudanese authorities have not given a reason for their arrest and detention.
IBAHRI Co-Chair Sternford Moyo commented, ‘Lawyers must be free to exercise their profession without fear of arrest or harassment. The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute finds the situation worrying, particularly as it is not the first time that such arrests and detentions of human rights lawyers by the Sudanese authorities have occurred.’ He added, ‘We urge the Sudanese authorities to immediately provide reasons for the arrests and to respect Sudan’s international obligations, specifically those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.’
The IBAHRI encourages the Sudanese authorities to ensure that the rights of the detained lawyers be upheld, particularly their right to liberty and protection against torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and that they be charged or promptly released.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Romana St. Matthew - Daniel
Press Office
International Bar Association
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London EC4 4AD
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About the International Bar Association
The global voice of the legal profession
The International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Its membership includes over 45,000 lawyers and more than 200 bar associations and law societies spanning every continent. The IBA influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.
The IBA’s administrative office is in London; regional offices are located in São Paulo, Brazil and Seoul, South Korea.
Grouped into two divisions – the Legal Practice Division and the Public and Professional Interest Division – the IBA offers its members access to leading experts and up-to-date information across all areas of legal practice and professional interest. Through a network of specialised committees, the IBA enables an exchange of information and opinions regarding laws, practices and professional responsibilities pertaining to the practice of law globally. High-quality publications and world-class conferences further provide unrivalled professional development and networking opportunities for legal practitioners and professional associates.
The IBA’s Bar Issues Commission provides a forum for IBA member bar associations and law societies to discuss any matter relating to law at an international level.
The IBA’s Human Rights Institute works to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just Rule of Law, and to preserve the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession worldwide.
In partnership with the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, the IBA created the Southern Africa Litigation Centre,based in Johannesburg, South Africa, to promote human rights and the Rule of Law in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The IBA was instrumental in establishing the International Legal Assistance Consortium in Stockholm, Sweden. This global consortium of non-governmental organisations provides technical legal assistance to post-conflict countries.
Through a grant-funded project, the IBA also maintains an office in The Hague which manages the IBA’s International Criminal Court (ICC) Programme. This office follows the work and proceedings of the ICC, focusing primarily on the fair trial rights of the accused and the manner in which the Rome Statute and other legal documents of the Court are implemented and encourages the legal community to engage with the work of the Court.
Contact information:
International Bar Association
4th Floor, 10 St Bride Street,
London EC4 4AD
Tel: +44 (0)20 7842 0090
Fax:+44 (0)20 7842 0091
Website: www.ibanet.org