Victims of torture by Sudanese secret service agents in 2008 for alleged support of the International Criminal Court in indicting President Omar al-Bashir, have passed the African Commission’s admissibility stage. Defenders Osman Hummeida, Amir Suliman and Monim Elgak, represented by lawyer and FIDH Vice‑President, Arnold Tsunga, had filed a complaint against Sudan in 2009 in the absence of independent appeal mechanisms in their country.
Amir Suleiman: “Thank you for your continuous support of us and the Sudanese human rights movement. I am very happy that now, with this decision, the Commission has opened a window for all NISS (Sudanese secret service) victims to seek redress from this mechanism, as the Sudanese justice system is unwilling and unable to prosecute NISS personnel. Let us pursue all procedures before the Commission until we get the final decision; we hope it will recommend that the Government of Sudan amend the NISS Act and establish viable national recourse mechanisms for the victims of human rights violations.”