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.

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

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.