Human Rights Watch is concerned for the safety of Abdel Aziz Khalid, who was detained by United Arab Emirates immigration authorities at Abu Dhabi Airport on September 23, 2004.
Human Rights Watch asks that the United Arab Emirates immediately release Abdel Aziz Khalid, a Sudanese national who is being detained by U.A.E. authorities solely on the basis of an extradition request from the government of Sudan. We believe that the Sudanese government’s extradition request is a politically motivated attempt to deny Abdel Aziz Khalid of his rights to freedom of expression, association and movement.
Abdel Aziz Khalid is a respected Sudanese opposition figure who was traveling to the United Arab Emirates on September 23, 2004 to give lectures and hold meetings when he was arrested on a Sudanese government extradition request.
Abdel Aziz Khalid has been a critic of the Sudanese government since it came to power in a military coup in 1989. He has been a member of the Leadership Council of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a now-inactive Sudanese rebel force based in Asmara, Eritrea which is currently in negotiations with the government. In 1999, Abdel Aziz Khalid was accused of sabotage by the Sudanese government; on June 3, 2000, the president of Sudan issued an unconditional amnesty for all such acts inside and outside of Sudan.
The amnesty is conditional on the individual returning to Sudan. Abdel Aziz Khalid fears for his safety, regardless of the amnesty, and has chosen not to return to Sudan.
The government of Sudan has stated on a number of occasions that it does not intend to prosecute Abdel Aziz Khalid, and is only seeking “reconciliation.” By requesting extradition under these circumstances, the government is abusing the extradition mechanism.
Human Rights Watch fears that if Abdel Aziz Khalid is forcibly returned to Sudan, his personal safety and well-being will be jeopardized, and he will be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The Sudanese government periodically detains scores of political opposition members for prolonged periods, as it did with alleged coup plotters in March 2004 and again in September 2004. Three of those detained in September died in custody and their relatives claim that autopsies revealed they died under torture. Survivors of both mass arrests also claim they were tortured. Abdel Aziz Khalid faces no criminal charges in the UAE.
We respectfully call on the government of the United Arab Emirates to release him from detention immediately and without condition.
We thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Peter Takirambudde
Executive Director
Africa Division
Sarah Leah Whitson
Exective Director
Middle East and North Africa Division
CC:
HE Mohammad Nakhaira al-Dhahiri, Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf
HE Lt. Gen. Dr. Mohammad Saeed al-Badi. Minister of Interior
HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahayan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
HE Rashid Abdullah al-Nuaimi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
