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 The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal

Profession (ACIJLP) expresses its denunciation of the violation by the

Sudanese authorities of the rights of lawyers. The Sudanese authorities

constantly violate the rights of lawyers to freedom of opinion and

expression, to form and join leagues, hold meetings, participate in

public discussion of legal matters, and to participate in the

administration of justice, and the reinforcement and protection of human rights.

The recurrent aggression on lawyer Ghazy Soliman, head of the National

Coalition for the Restoration of Democracy and head of the Sudanese

Group for Human Rights, affirms that the aggression by the Sudanese

authorities has become a common practice.

On Wednesday 17 November 1999, and for the third successive time, the

Sudanese authorities used force to disperse a press conference held by

the Democratic Forces Front, and arrested lawyer Ghazy Soliman merely

for his opinions and political orientation.

In the morning of that day, Sudanese security forces surrounded the

building where the office of said lawyer is located, and where a press

conference was about to be held. They prevented people to get into or

out of the building, and, without any warning, broke into the office to

disperse the people. They broke the door, used tear gas in the whole

building and in the office where fifty people, mainly lawyers, were

gathering. In addition to getting stifled by the tear gas, the

attending people were also kicked and beaten by clubs, which caused many of them to get injured. Moreover, the office furniture, as well as

suits files were damaged, and lawyer Ghazy Soliman together with other

eleven lawyers were arrested and detained until five thirty of the

evening of the same day, when they were released pending

investigations. The arrested lawyers included: Sati’ Alhag, Ameer

Soliman, Ma’moun Farouk, Ezz El-Din Othman, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mo’awad

Awad, (these are males). They also included: Nazik Mahgoub, Afaaf

Othman, Sumayya Ali Isshak, Ishraka Adam, (these are females.)

In the morning of the following day, they were referred to the Khartoum

Prosecution Office which charged them with holding a meeting without

prior permission from the authorities, and referred them to the Khartoum Criminal Court. It also ordered their release guaranteed by their Ids until a court ruling is made on the charge brought against them.

According to the provisions of articles 69, 77, and 99 of the Sudanese

Penal Code no. 91, the sentence for the charge brought against them

could reach six months is prison and a fine of half million Sudanese

pounds.

It must be noted that lawyer Ghazy Soliman was subjected to medical

examinations, and his doctors said he must stay in hospital because he

had disseminated wounds allover the body. He also suffers from

diabetes.

The ACIJLP expresses its deep regret for the constant attack on Sudanese lawyers. It also condemns the violations committed by the Sudanese government of international human rights standards in general, and particularly articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 23 of the UN Principles on the Role of Lawyers.

This last article states that:

"Lawyers, like other citizens, are entitled to freedom of expression,

belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the

right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law,

the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human

rights and to join or form local, national or international

organizations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional

restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a

lawful organization. In exercising these rights, lawyers shall always

conduct themselves in accordance with the law and the recognized

standards and ethics of the legal profession."

The ACIJLP appeals to the Sudanese authorities to commit to

international standards on the independence of the legal profession, and to revoke the charge brought against Ghazy Soliman and his fellow

lawyers.