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, 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.

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.