SOUDAN: Joint statement for arrested and detained Sudanese Lawyer Montaser Abdullah

The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD), Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Institute for the Rule of Law of the International Association of Lawyers, Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, the Sudanese Defenders Center for Legal Aid, REDRESS and the Law Society of England and Wales express deep concerns over the arbitrary arrest and detention of Sudanese lawyer Montaser Abdullah since 7 September 2024 due to his work as a lawyer and taking up human rights and political cases.

On 7 September 2024, Mr. Abdullah was reportedly abducted from his office in the middle of the day, and subsequently detained incommunicado until 3 October 2024 by the Sudanese Armed Forces. It has been reported that Mr. Abdullah has been a victim of gross mistreatment during his detention, having repeatedly been beaten and showing physical signs of abuse. He is currently being kept in the most secured section of Port Sudan prison, without an official charge filed against him.

Since the beginning of the war in Sudan in 2023, lawyers have been amongst those most targeted by both the Rapid Support Forces (SF) and Armed Forces (SAF) in light of the role they previously played in the reconciliation and rebuilding of Sudan. Such attacks have taken the form of enforced disappearances, torture, incommunicado detentions, arbitrary killings, life imprisonment sentences and the death penalty.

In view of the above, the undersigned organisations call on Sudanese authorities to:

• Ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Abdullah, and any other lawyers who are arbitrarily detained or have been prosecuted solely for carrying out their legitimate professional duties as lawyers
• Immediately end torture and other inhumane and degrading treatment and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, in trials conforming with international law
• Ensure access to justice and due process for all persons accused of criminal offences
• Immediately end the practice of enforced disappearance and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, in trials conforming with international law
• Ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place, both in law and in practice, to guarantee the full independence and safety of lawyers and their effective protection against any form of retaliation in connection with their professional activities
• Refrain from any actions that may constitute harassment, persecution or undue interference in the work of lawyers, including their arrest or criminal prosecution on improper grounds.

We will continue to follow the situation of Mr. Abdullah closely. Read the full statement in french and english: