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.

Update October 7, 2013

(updated 4:17 p.m. EDT)

Today pharmacy students at the University of Khartoum held a silent protest for a fellow student detained by NISS.

Today Sudan TV hosted a "psychological expert" to analyse the protesters. His diagnosis? Sociopaths with inferiority complexes and resentment. He further stated that they suffer from social envy toward certain economic classes, are neglected by parents, or are illegitimate children out for revenge against society.

The trial of Dr. Samar Mirghani was again postponed, this time until Wednesday, 9 October at 1 p.m. 

Medical sources report that Dr. Sabri Fakhri, a Sudanese surgeon, has been detained for ten days by the NCP regime.

Read an article here about the families of slain protesters demanding an international investigation into the killing of peaceful protesters.

Three hundred Sudanese doctors working in the UK handed a memorandum to the British government indicating that the death toll from protests had reached 250 and that many injured demonstrators were being denied access to hospitals.

The Sudanese Journalists Network organized a press conference on press freedom today at Umma Party headquarters in Omdurman. Security forces besieged the press conference and some journalists were arrested.

There are reports that doctors were arrested after initiating a demonstration inside Khartoum Hospital.

Many families of protesters who were killed have not received death certificates. It was reported that the head of Khartoum's mortuary resigned during the early days of the current protests, defying orders to register protest related deaths resulting from gunshots as due to natural causes.

Ahram.org reported demonstrations in Sinnar, about 250 km southeast of Khartoum, last night. Witnesses said police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrations.

On Sunday night, State radio reported that Bashir ordered the release of "all the women arrested except those accused of a crime." Of course, many men and women remain in detention.

Gulf News reported that, "The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, a human rights watchdog, said Saturday that more than 800 people had been arrested throughout the country by police and the NISS.

"The prisoners include political activists, opposition party members and human rights defenders, the watchdog said, adding that the exact number of detentions was unknown.

""The majority of detainees are in NISS custody and have not been charged with any criminal offence," the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies said."

Radio Dabanga reported that the Central Regional Court in Wad Madani sentenced 40 people charged with protesting to 20 lashes and a fine of 150 SDG.

Mohammed Salah Elfeil, missing for many days, and known to have been in NISS custody, was reported to have been released and in good condition.

The Guardian reported information first brought to light in 2009 that Omar Al-Bashir may have stashed as much as nine billion dollars of Sudan's money in London banks. This information comes from secret US diplomatic cables recounting conversations with the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. This amount of money is equal to one tenth of of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of Sudan.

There was a demonstration in Rome, Italy in support of Sudanese protesters calling for regime change.

Many Families Missing Loved Ones

There was a protest following a public talk at the University of Khartoum today. Though students tried to leave the campus, the protest was quickly quelled with tear gas. Radio Dabanga reported that security troops in uniform and in plain clothes, carrying electrical batons and firearms, prevented students from leaving the campus.

Dr. Samar Mirghani was to be tried today for speaking on Al Arabiya network about being beaten while detained by security forces. The trial, set for 9:00 this morning, Khartoum time, was delayed. This is typical of such trials, with some being delayed four or five times.

Many other protesters are being tried in courts, as well. In Haj Yousif, Khartoum North courts, some female protesters are being accused of "ululating during a protest."

Many activists remained detained at unknown locations. This image has been posted on social media sites calling for the release of the detainees.

(UPDATE) Late this evening, Khartoum time, news came that Dalia El Roubi, Rayan Shakir, and Amel Habbani were released from custody.

Pictured below is Mohammed Salah Ahmed Elfil, a 19 year old student at UMST who is missing. He was late coming home on Thursday evening. At 11 p.m., his brother received a text message saying Mohammed was having trouble finding transport and was getting a ride with pick up truck driver who would take him part of the way. His brother was suspicious of the message and called him, but found Mohammed's phone was off. A few hours later, Mohammed's brother received another message from him saying he was in a dark place, but that he was okay. Again, when his brother tried to call, he found the phone was off. His family looked for him over the next couple of days, even contacting NISS security forces who said they had not detained him. Since this is a common first response, they continued to ask and NISS eventually admitted having detained him for protesting. Saturday morning, the family received a call from Mohammed on an unfamiliar number saying he was okay. In the evening, they called NISS again to ask Mohammed's whereabouts and were told he had been released at 5:00 p.m. and that they had had no further contact with him. Until now, Mohammed is still missing. The family cannot explain the messages they received or the information they received from NISS.

Click here to view This is Our Homeland, a beautiful video, subtitled in English, explaining the hardships and oppression that have led people to protest.

Many protests in support of Sudan protesters were held yesterday including this one in Manchester, UK:

And this one outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C., USA.

And this one in Berlin:

The New York Times published this article today, a humanizing piece about the protests and martyr Salah Sanhouri.

This heartbreaking video, Martyr Salah Sanhouri, not subtitled, has been making the rounds on social media sites. It contains video of the demonstration in which Salah Sanhouri was killed, including footage of Salah demonstrating peacefully, singing the Sudanese national anthem, and his friend describing the events surrounding the killing of Salah Sanhouri.

Martyrs' Families Plan to Bring Charges, Solidarity Protests from Around the World

The head of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, Dr. Ahmed El-Sheikh was arrested today by security forces, from his clinic. The Sudanese Doctors Syndicate head reported to the press that 210 protesters had been killed in protests. His arrest follows days of increasing numbers of activists being arrested from homes and workplaces, leading some to joke that the NISS is trying to arrest all of Sudan to stope the protests. Many are being detained in unknown locations and being held without charges. It is estimated that more than 700 citizens are currently being detained as a result of the most recent protests.

The ruling National Congress Part (NCP) formed a "Committee of Accountability" to address party members that signed a reform memorandum.


Numerous sources reported the Governour of Khartoum made a statement that Israel is using Facebook activists to create chaos in Sudan.

A memorial to martyrs of Shambat, North Khartoum:

There are reports that families of victims killed during protests last week are forming a committee to bring international charges against the government of Sudan. Shown in the picture below is the mother of Hazza'a Izzeldin Jaafar, killed in protests in Shambat, North Khartoum.

Some photos from protests in Atbara in River Nile State:

The baby's headband asks, "Where is daddy?"

Members of the Sudanese community in Australia held a rally in support of protesters in Sudan.

Another rally in solidarity was held in Toronto today.

See video here.

A rally was also held in Dublin, Ireland today:

A rally took place in front of the White House.

A protest rally is also planned for 4 p.m. EDT in front of the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C.

This interview, Sudan Eyewitness from the Frontline, with an activist named Ali, was published online yesterday.

Many political cartoons are currently making the rounds of various social networks.

Girifna posted tips on documenting protests which make clear the difficulty and danger of doing so in Sudan.