29 October 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The OIAD is deeply concerned about the arrest and arbitrary detention of five lawyers in Khartoum. These five lawyers are being targeted for their involvement in defending individuals accused of \u2018collaborating\u2019 with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to the Emergency Lawyers collective, the Sudanese authorities questioned and then arrested the five lawyers last November, before bringing criminal proceedings against them based on provisions[1]<\/a>[2]<\/a> relating to \u201cundermining the constitutional order\u201d and \u201cinciting war against the state\u201d. These provisions are regularly used to criminalise the professional and peaceful activities of civilians and lawyers.<\/p>\n A \u201csecurity cell\u201d[3]<\/a> proceeded to arrest the five lawyers, including Nasra Abkar Ibrahim, who was arbitrarily arrested in Omdurman with her sister. The lawyer is being prosecuted for allegedly \u2018threatening a public official\u2019 and \u2018attempting to influence the judiciary\u2019. Her trial is scheduled for 29 October 2025 before the North Omdurman Criminal Court. The collective has called for international monitoring of this hearing to ensure that the rights of the defence and a fair trial are respected.<\/p>\n The Emergency Lawyers collective has also reported a worrying increase in arrests of activists, teachers and doctors by the same unit.<\/p>\n These arrests are part of a broader wave of repression against lawyers, human rights defenders and legal professionals in Sudan.<\/p>\n The Observatory strongly condemns\u00a0<\/strong>the arbitrary arrests of these five lawyers, which clearly violate the\u00a0United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Observatory urges <\/strong>the Sudanese authorities\u00a0to release the five arbitrarily arrested lawyers immediately and unconditionally.<\/p>\n The Observatory calls for\u00a0<\/strong>an independent and impartial investigation into the role of the \u2018security cell\u2019 in these arbitrary arrests.<\/p>\n The Observatory reminds Sudan\u00a0<\/strong>of its international commitments under the following provisions:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Find us on<\/em><\/strong>:<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Article 50 of the\u00a0Sudanese Criminal Code of 1991<\/a>: \u201cAnyone who commits an act with the aim of undermining the constitutional regime of the country or endangering its independence or unity shall be punished by death, life imprisonment or a lesser term of imprisonment, with confiscation of all his property<\/em>.\u201d (Unofficial translation<\/strong>).<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Article 51 of the\u00a0Sudanese Criminal Code of 1991<\/a>: \u201cAny person who incites war against the State shall be guilty of incitement to war against the State and shall be punished by death, life imprisonment or a lesser term of imprisonment, with the possibility of confiscation of all his property, if he:<\/em><\/p>\n (a) incites war against the State on a military level by gathering or training individuals, gathering weapons or equipment, or if he engages in this course of action, or incites the guilty party to do so or supports him in any way<\/em>\u00a0(…)\u201d (Unofficial translation<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n
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