Updates, November

The second in command of the Sudan Revolutionary Front was killed in fighting with government forces in Abu Zabad, 17 November.

The cartoon reads, "Sudanese economy."

Reports that surgeries have been suspended in Nyala, South Darfur after surgeons went on strike.

The sentencing of Sudanese journalist, Faisal Mohamed Salih, winner of the Peter Mackler Award, has been postponed. He is being tried for slander after writing about a young woman's rape at the hands of officers of the National Intelligence and Security Service.

Recent meme, making the rounds of social networks reads, "Where can I get bread?" with the response, "Delivery option at exorbitant prices."

Image highlighting the failure of the polio vaccination campaign in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. Government and rebel forces did not reach agreement and polio vaccination drive was canceled, leaving 163,000 children robbed of their right to protection against this devastating disease.

Another recent meme: Bashir when he siezed power: "Give us 5 years and our smallest official will have a gut this size," referring to the globe. Bashir and other officials widely mocked for their weight gain while large portions of the population suffer from malnutrition.

Unconfirmed reports of Yemeni and Iranian troops spotted at Atbara markets.

Reports that the NISS has hired a Russian expert to spy on activists using social networks, via Sudanese Online.

Customer: On tv, they said it cost 25

Shop keeper: Go buy it from the tv, then

Petrol is reportedly being sold for 80 Sudanese pounds per gallon in Zalinji, Central Darfur, while the price in Khartoum is 20 sdg and the official price is 28 sdg. There are only two petrol stations in Zalinji and cars are allowed only two gallons per day, spurring the high black market cost of petrol.

The price of bread is reportedly surpassing the price of gold under the current regime. Because of shortages, bread lines have been growing in recent weeks.

Demonstrations in Abu Hamad After Attempted Rape (images)

Residents of Abu Hamad, a town on the north edge of Nile River State, began protesting yesterday after an intruder attempted to rape a student in a dormitory, and then stabbed her when she screamed. The young woman is said to be in critical condition. The man suspected of attempted rape is one of many gold prospectors who have swarmed the town with the recent "gold rush."

Demonstrations protesting the lack of adequate security to protect town residents from the gold prospectors continued today in a square renamed Azza Square for the student who was attacked. The residents are calling for the resignation of officials, the capture of the suspect in this particular case, as well as increased security for the people. Salah Karrar, an original member of the current regime has joined the protesters in their call for reform.

Updates 1 November

Over 99% of Abyei's Dinka Ngok residents voted to join South Sudan in an unofficial referendum. Only 12 votes were cast to remain part of Sudan. Abyei sits on the border between Sudan and South Sudan. Due to a lack of consensus on who is eligible to vote, the vote has not officially been held. Arabic-speaking Misseriya tribe boycotted the vote.

Tarig Raheem, Mahmoud Siraj and Rania Ghandour were arrested yesterday, and released this morning at 3:30 a.m.

Reports of 10 kilograms of gold produced by Sahara Mining Co. upon the launch of national production.

Via Bashir Diary Facebook page

Updates 30 October - Professors Released, Protest, New Party (image)

This short film, "Shukran, Toni," a response to a letter written by Toni Morrison, has been making the rounds of social media sites.

Sudanese professors arrested in the past two days were released today.

Residents of El Khojalaab, North Khartoum, organized a protest in solidarity with detainees, outside the Khartoum North courthouse.

A new political party was reported to have been formed by Islamists.

Novelist Rania Mamoun is scheduled to return to court tomorrow in Wad Madani, Sudan.

Update 29 October - University Professors Detained

University professors were arrested and detained including: Balgees Badri and her daughter, Shahla, Hadia Hassab Al Rasoul and her husband, Hisham Omer Alnour, Sara Nogdalla and Mohamed Zein el Abdin.

Updates 28 October - Verdict, Releases, Continuing Arrests (images)

Hadia HassabAllah, a respected teacher and advocate for human rights and women's rights was arrested today.

Several detainees were freed today including Mastoor Ahmed, Mohayad Siddig, Moez Abdelwahab and Amjed Farid.




The Sudanese Journalist Union summoned journalist Bahram Abdel Moneim for his now famous questioning of Minister of Culture regarding civilian deaths in a press conference being broadcasted live on Al Arabiya television. His question was: Why do you insist on lying and blaming armed gangs for the deaths of civilians when we all know NCP militias killed the peaceful demonstrators? Bahram was detained and released.






Today, Dr. Samar Mirghani, a pharmacist accused of taking photographs and having offensive material on her cell phone, was sentenced in court today. She had also appeared on Al Arabiya, displaying her bruises from beatings she was subjected to, at the hands of police. The verdict found her not guilty of possession of pornography, but guilty of participating in demonstrations. She was sentenced to pay 5,000 Sudanese pounds, or remain in custody for up to three months.















Dr. Samar and her parents after the fine was paid. Some have said that one day, she will get her money back, as will the rest of the Sudanese people who have been robbed by this government.













Cartoon shows Bashir and "opposition leaders," Mirghani and Elmahdi, all perceived complicit in deaths of Sudanese civilians.



















A cartoon showing falafel stuffed with bread, ridiculing rising bread prices and reduction of the size of bread, which is regulated by the government.

Updates - Trials of Rania and Samar (images)

The trial of novelist, Rania Elmamoun has again been postponed in Wad Medani, this time until 21 October, due to the absence of witnesses. She is the writer who publicly shared the tale of the torture of her brother, sister and herself. She is portrayed on the left in the image below, with bruises resulting from her torture at the hands of security forces, while brother had his collar bone broken. 

Samar Mirghani, pictured on the right, is to receive a verdict on the 28 October. Dr. Samar is on trial for speaking about and photographing abuses by security forces. 

(via Rasd Sudan)

Below, pictures from outside the courthouse where Rania had her court date today.

More than 50 hunger strikers continue to work to bring attention to the situation in Sudan. Here is blogger Muniness' blog from today on #strike4sudan.

Political cartoon reads: Lifting of subsidies

Updates - Strike4Sudan (Images)

Activists began a five day hunger strike on 21 October calling for:

1. Release of all political detainees;
2. Bringing those responsible for the killing of protesters to justice and allowing people to demonstrate without fear of detention or use of force;
3. Freedom of expression and allowing journalists to resume their role and lift the bans on newspapers.

Kawther Elsheikh, the mother of detainee Mohammed Hassan Aalim (also known as Elboushi) stated she would participate in the strike4sudan hunger strike to protest the refusal of authorities to allow her to visit her detained son. After announcing her plans to go on hunger strike, NISS authorities granted her a visit with her son on Wednesday. Via BRQ Sudan

Letter from Kawther Elsheikh (pictured at right) stating she will participate in hunger strike.

Read updates by hunger strikers at strike4sudan.wordpress.com and http://bitazza.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/thoughts-on-a-hunger-strike-strike4sudan/ and http://sudaneseactifist.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/strike4sudan/

Find a list of participants here.

A petition calling for those responsible for violence against peaceful protesters to be brought to justice has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures. Find the petition here.

Political cartoons continue to be shared on social media sites.

Bashir, dressed for Hajj, carries a gun that has shot dead (the symbol of) Sudan.

Q: Are you going on hunger strike? 

A: We've been on strike since 1989.

Updates, Images - 20 October - Another protester dies in Omdurman.

Another young man, Fath Elrahman Saeed Widaat Allah, 20 years old, has died today after being shot in the stomach in demonstrations on 25 September of this year. He passed away in Elnaw Hospital in Omdurman. The following images are from Fath Elrahman's burial today.

Sudanese bloggers, journalists, activists,  families of detainees and supporters in the diaspora are undertaking a hunger strike from 21 to 25 October to bring attention to the situation in Sudan, with demands including the release of hundreds still detained by Sudanese security forces and that those responsible for killing peaceful protesters be held accountable. Hunger strikers are using the hashtag #strike4sudan on Twitter. Blogger Kashiff111 (Twitter screen name) began a hunger strike about two weeks ago and is blogging about it here.

Farouq Abu-Eissa, head of the National Consensus Forces penned a letter to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, requesting a UN Commission investigation into ongoing human rights violations in Sudan. Read the letter here.

Opposition parties are calling for demonstrations in memory of the October 21st revolution of 1964.

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Press Release: The human rights situation in Sudan deteriorated between July and September 2013. There were credible reports that over 100 protesters and police werekilled, and hundreds more injured, with live ammunition being used by security forces on protesters. 

Over 600 political activists and protestors were detained by the authorities. Read the report here.

Reads: Inqaz, you have starved the people.

Updates 17 October

A vigil held by families continues for the fourth day in front of NISS headquarters.

Radio Dabanga reports renewed air raids by the Sudanese Air Force on East Jebel Marra, Darfur. Article here.

Report that Yasin Abdalla Ali Hussein died yesterday in Darfur after being subjected to NISS torture. His family was told he was detained on 14 October. They were later informed that he had been taken to the hospital, but they were unable to visit him because of curfew. They went to see him at 4:30 in the afternoon, only to find his body in the morgue with marks on his body indicating that he had been tortured.

Small protests were reported in Khartoum and Central Darfur after eid prayers.

Family of Omer Mahjoub Dawoud report they are being denied access to visit Omer who was detained three weeks ago.

Oct 14 : Text & Images

These were the recent texts I had received from my correspondent in Sudan.

-----
1:28pm, Oct 14 - Sudan Revolts: 19 year old Alam Eldin Haroun Eissa Abdulrahman shot by security forces and left in a ditch

1:28pm, Oct 14 - Sudan Revolts: September 2013
1:28pm, Oct 14 - Sudan Revolts: 2013 Martyr
1:28pm, Oct 14 - Sudan Revolts: Second day of detainee failures vigil in front of NISS HQ

-----

There have been some unconfirmed reports that a young man threw a shoe at Nafie Ali Nafie, who is the presidential adviser (aka The Butcher).  The young man was tortured, then refused admittance to Hilaaliya Hospital.  Was taken to Hasaaheesa Hospital later.

Sudan Speaks, Sudan Revolts.
-Mosno

Young Hilaaliya Man Tortured for Shoe Incident

Families protesting outside NISS offices for the second day in a row were dispersed by security, but promised they would return tomorrow. The video clip here shows the families being told to leave, and also illustrates the difficulty of getting footage with the threat of arrest, detention, torture and trial for filming/photographing.

With the Eid holiday quickly approaching, hundreds of families face the prospect of not having their loved ones home to observe and celebrate the Eid.

Presidential advisor Nafie Ali Nafie was reportedly struck in the face by a shoe thrown by a 20 year old resident of Hilaaliya. The young man was detained and taken to an unknown location. Later reports indicate that the young man, Ashraf Zein Alabdin, was tortured by security forces and that Hilaalya Hospital refused to admit him. He was later taken to Hasaaheesa Hospital. Further information is as yet unavailable.

Sudanese in the Bay Area (California, US) are planning a rally today at 2:00 p.m. in San Francisco's Union Square.

Updates 12 October 2013

Reports of a sit-in by family members of detainees this evening in front of NISS offices in Khartoum.

Arabnews.com reports that two members of President Bashir's family were amongst protesters at a mosque in central Khartoum on Friday, calling for the freedom of expression and a transitional administration.

It is reported that juveniles have been convicted of vandalism and attempting to overthrow the Sudanese government.

Protester, Mohamed Ali was reported to have died in hospital Friday from wounds sustained in September demonstrations.

There is disappointment and anger among some Sudanese activists in reaction to a statement by the African Union that, "Sitting heads of state and government should not be prosecuted while in office."

Reports that Bashir stated security forces should do "whatever it takes" to stop demonstrations, even if one third of the population die. It was also reported that press who witnessed the statement, on October 3 in a Council of Ministers meeting, were later rounded up and had their tapes confiscated.

Updates 11 October

Demonstrations were reported in Central Khartoum today, leaving the Khartoum Grand Mosque.

Protests and/or riots were reported today in the Burri neighborhood of Khartoum.

In an open letter reported to have been written by the father of Dr. Samar Mirghani. Dr. Samar was abused by the police, and that they are charging her with having possession of offensive material in her mobile phone. As the prosecutors were unable to unlock her phone, her court appearance was postponed. The letter states that what the children of Sudan do is not offensive, but that government actions and officials are offensive.

Via Rasd Sudan: Khartoum State Police are complaining of absenteeism and resignations due to the economic situation. The Chief of Police stated that many police men went to the gold mining areas.

Many political cartoons are making the rounds on social media sites.

In this Khartoon, Bashir is saying, "Everything is fine, there's nothing going on."(Click on this link to see more of this artist's work.)

The sign reads, "Sheep Market."

Radio Dabanga reports that protests continue in Central Darfur, despite a large security presence. Read the full article here.

There was a protest in front of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to the crimes of the Sudanese government.

Another protest rally is planned for 10:20 a.m. EDT on Saturday 12 October 2013 in front of the IMF.

Court Appearances and Women's Silent Stances

Women stood in silent protest outside court in Madani today.

This beautifully written article, relaying the events of an 3 October silent stand by women in Khartoum, written by a participant, was published on the website al-monitor.com. 

Activist Dalia El-Roubi relayed the experience of her week-long detention in an interview with the AFP.

Novelist Rania Mamoun's trial for was postponed until 23 October 2013. She and two family members are charged with inciting a riot and disorderly conduct.

There are calls for families not to donate sheepskin from slaughters during the upcoming eid as these are a source of income for the government.

9 October, Trials and Tribulations

Amal Abdallah Samaria, a 28 year old mother of twin six month olds, was hit over the head with the heavy end of an AK47, causing a concussion. She initiated legal proceedings against the soldier involved. She has been held in police custody in Omdurman since Sunday 29 September to pressure her into withdrawing her testimony. She is being allowed to breastfeed her twins every four hours while in custody.

It was reported that the lawyers of Dr. Samar Mirghani were attacked in court with stun guns, during today's court appearance. Dr. Samar is on trial for speaking about and photographing abuses by security forces. The trial has again been postponed, this time until 23 October.

Unconfirmed reports that "tens of protesters" were killed in protests in Zalingi, West Darfur.

A man was rescued from a suicide attempt after jumping from White Nile bridge. During interrogation he said he was unable to provide for his six children. He was found mentally competent.

Last week, government newspapers published a headline that Washington, D.C. and Riyadh were behind the protests in Sudan. They then immediately backpedaled on these statements, offering apologies.

In a speech broadcast live on national radio, President Bashir claimed Khartoum could not be overthrown because it was guarded by God and accused agents, thieves and hijackers of using the removal of fuel subsidies as an opportunity to overthrow his government.

Hundreds of protesters and activists remain in detention.

There is a call for boycotting newspapers still in print.

A series of memes have been making the rounds of social media sites.

Award-winning novelist, Rania Mamoun reported that she and her sister will stand trial tomorrow, 10 October in Medani Criminal Court after relating her story of torture at the hands of security forces. If you have not yet read her account, find it here.

Click here to see a documentary video called "The Party,", subtitled in English, about torture at the hands of Sudanese security authorities. While the video is not current, such torture practice are longstanding and ongoing, as reported by recent detainees.

250 dead, but what about those who were injured?

Medical sources have reported 250 dead from September protests, but the number of injured are not known. Ibrahim Abdelrahman, pictured below, is an 8th grader. Abena reports on their Facebook page, he remains in a coma since being shot on 25 September. Ja'far Othman Yagoub of Kalakla was reported to have died today from blunt force head trauma caused by sharp instruments during protests there.

There are reports of fabricated and coerced confessions, a long time NISS tactic, as well as reports of underaged children being charged in relation to protests.

There are unconfirmed reports that Huzaa, a martyr of the protests in Shambat, North Khartoum had been detained for statements she made regarding the security forces, calling them "dogs of the government."

The government, some report, has offered families of murdered protesters to perform Hajj, sponsored by the government.

The families of those killed in the protests continue to be denied death certificates, instead receiving only permission to bury their loved ones.

President Bashir is due to leave to perform Hajj on Sunday, at the invitation of the Saudi government.

A demonstrations in support of Sudanese protesters calling for regime change was held in front of the Hague, the Netherlands on 5 October 2013. Watch video here.

On October 6, Al Arabiya reported that charges were dropped by a judge in Haj Yousef, North Khartoum, against 19 detained protesters due to a lack of evidence against them. 

Release Moiz Abdewalah

Activist Moiz Abdelwalah was arrested in September for calling for peaceful change in Sudan. After detaining him, NISS is reported to have created a fake profile dedicated to Moiz. A post was made on the fake profile indicating, erroneously, that he had been released. Click here to go to the actual page dedicated to the release of Moiz Abdelwalah.