Sudan: Alkarama addresses the United Nations about Dr. Al Jazouli’s abduction by the Rapid Support Forces
In early June 2023, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearance regarding Dr. Mohamed Ali Abdullah Al Jazouli, who was abducted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.
Al Jazouli who was taken to an unknown destination was then forced to confess while being filmed and under duress to convict himself of belonging to the Islamic State (IS). Al Jazouli’s whereabouts remain unknown while he is being denied any contact with his family in a flagrant violation of the law and his dignity and fundamental rights.
Dr. Al Jazouli (49) is a political activist and head of the State of Law and Development Party. He was previously arrested and released following a complaint filed by Alkarama before UN procedures.
On 17 May around 3 p.m. several members of the RSF arrived by four-wheel drive vehicles and raided the house of one of Al Jazouli’s comrade, Aqeel Naim, located in Al Thawra Al Hara 38 in Omdurman - known to be a safe area under the control of the army forces-. Then, Al Jazouli and all of his comrades, Mujahid Al-Abbasi, Khaled Jassim and Sheikh Naim were all taken to an unknown destination.
The RSF enjoys the support of the United Arab Emirates in the context of Abu Dhabi's support for many military generals and warlords in the Arab region to suppress peaceful dissent and Islamist forces that engaged in the revolutions of the so-called Arab Spring, as well as joint economic benefits, as Emirati investors enjoy a large share of gold and associated mineral exploration agreements in areas under the control of the RSF.
Since his arrest Al Jazouli was prohibited to contact his family who ignored where he was being detained until he appeared on May 2023 in a video clip broadcasted by the RSF. He was showing signs of fatigue and making confessions under duress of belonging to the Islamic State "ISIS" which raised the astonishment of many Sudanese circles especially in view of their knowledge of Al Jazouli's peaceful political orientations, his rejection of the culture of violence and his belief in peaceful work.
Alkarama recalls that enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity and has legal consequences for the forces that commit this crime and holds their commanders accountable.
Previous arrest
On 14 July 2020, Mr. Al Jazouli was arrested in front of his home by several members of the security forces in civilian clothes and heavily armed, without a warrant and without being notified of the reasons for his arrest; he was taken to the headquarters of the intelligence services in Khartoum. In the absence of any legal basis for his arrest, Mr. Jazouli benefited from a release decision issued by the Public Prosecutor in Khartoum on 30 October 2021, before the military leadership overturned the decision.
On 4 February 2022, Alkarama addressed the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the arbitrary detention of Al Jazouli.
On 7 April 2022, Alkarama confirmed that the Sudanese authorities had released Al Jazouli along with three other political detainees.