With regard to the disturbing news that we have received of the violent intervention of The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), and the arbitrary detention of civilians and journalists during the ongoing anti-austerity protests. We, the family and friends of Ismail Adam Hamid petition his immediate release from the custody of the NISS. Ismail along hundreds other civilians, political activists and journalists were arrested on 16th January 2018. The conditions in which they are arrested and treatment from the NISS are unknown. All form of communications and visits are denied to family and friends. Ismail Adam Hamid suffers a medical condition and needs immediate access to medical care.
The protest of the Sudanese people against the economic and social policies, as expressed in the budget for 2018, is an expression of the struggle the people of Sudan have to endure due to these reforms. Ismail Adam Hamid along with the other civilians were trying, through peaceful protest, to draw the attention of the government to the hard conditions and the daily struggles many people in Sudan are experiencing. We urge the government to understand violent arrest and detention is no answer to peaceful demands.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the internationally sanctioned foundation for all people and nations and deserves to be respected and applied throughout the world. We urge the government to follow the declaration and grant civilians the freedom to participate in the political and social affairs of their country.
The family and friends of Ismail Adam Hamid around the world, condemn any form of harassment, use of force, arbitrary detention and attacks on civilians and journalist by the police and The National Intelligence. We ask the immediate release of Ismail Adam Hamid and all detained civilians, who are only exercising their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
