MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan, the case of Dr. Amin Mekki Medani
16.12.2014 - (2014/3000(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Ignazio Corrao, Fabio Massimo Castaldo on behalf of the EFDD Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0389/2014
B8‑0393/2014
European Parliament resolution on Sudan, the case of Dr. Amin Mekki Medani
The European Parliament,
- Having regard to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders of 1998 and the activities of the United Nation Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders,
- Having regard to EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting conclusions on Sudan of 20 October 2014
- Having regard to European Parliament resolution of 10 October 2013 on clashes in Sudan and subsequent media censorship and to the European Parliament resolution of 13 June 2012 on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan
- Having regard to the Human Rights Council Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan of September 2014
- Having regard to its rules of procedure
A. Whereas on the evening of December 6 2014, the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Dr. Amin Mekki Medani and Faraoug Abu Eisa from their houses in Karthoum, without a warrant or reasons for their arrest, and moved them to an undisclosed location,
B. Whereas on December 3 Dr. Medani and Abu Eisa signed the "Sudan Call", a declaration on the Establishment of a State of Citizenship and Democracy under which co-signatories committed to work towards the end of the conflicts raging in different regions of Sudan and towards legal, institutional and economic reforms,
C. Whereas on 7 December, Dr. Farah Ibrahim Mohamed Alagar, was arrested by the NISS from his home in Alfitihab neighbourhood of Omdurman following the same modalities; whereas Dr. Alagar had also attended the Sudan Call negotiations in Addis Ababa but had not signed the resulting document,
D. Whereas Dr. Amin Mekki Medani is a renowned human rights defender as well as president of the Confederation of Sudanese Civil Society, Vice President of Civil Society Initiative, and former President of the Sudan Human Rights Monitor (SHRM) and Faroug Abu Eisa is head of the National Consensus Forces, an umbrella of political opposition parties,
E. Whereas there are serious concerns for the safety and health of Dr. Medani, who is 76 years old and suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes, for which he has prescribed medication,
F. Whereas reportedly the NISS refused to allow him to take his medications with him at the time of the arrest,
G. Whereas in the past months many political and youth activists, as well as prominent human rights defenders, have been arrested and detained in what appears as a manoeuvre to silence political opposition and criticism towards the ruling party,
H. Whereas youth activist Ibrahim Al-Safi was sentenced to one month imprisonment on 4 December after he was arrested and beaten by police for attending a public talk by Girifna on the need for law reform in Sudan and distributing leaflets on law reform.
I. Whereas there is serious concern about increasing restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly in Sudan and the routine application of broad and vaguely worded offenses to censor perceived critics of the ruling party,
J. Whereas President Omar al-Bashir is still subject to an ICC arrest warrant for crimes in Darfur
1. Denounces the arrest of Dr. Medani as arbitrary and as a reprisal to sanction his legitimate human rights activities,
2. Calls on the Sudanese authorities to release immediately and unconditionally Dr. Medani, Abu Eisa and Dr. Mohamed in the absence of valid legal charges, or if charges consistent with international standards do exist, to bring them promptly before a judge and to guarantee procedural rights at all times,
3. Calls on the Sudanese authorities to disclose the premises where Dr. Medani and Abu Eisa are being held and to allow their relatives and their lawyers immediate and unfettered access to them,
4. Urges the Sudanese authorities to take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Dr. Medani and of any other prisoner and in particular to grant him access to medication,
5. Calls for the immediate release of Ibrahim Al-Safi whose prosecution appears politically motivated and whose trial failed to meet international standards and to promptly start an investigation into the allegations of ill-treatment, including beatings by the police during his arrest,
6. Urges the Sudanese authorities to put an end to all acts of harassment and intimidation against political activists, human rights defenders, opposition leaders and to comply with the relevant international norms and standards, in particular the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders of 1998 and all regional and international human rights instruments ratified by Sudan,
7. Asks the Sudanese government and authorities to guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Sudan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions,
8. Asks to the Sudanese government, in particular, to reform the National Security Act of 2010 to bring it in line with international human rights standards, as well as other legislation, including the 1991 Sudanese Penal Code and 1991 Criminal Procedure Act, to enable the full exercise of fundamental human rights and freedoms as guaranteed in the 2005 Interim National Constitution and international law commitments made by Sudan.
9. Reminds that freedom of expression and of assembly is a cornerstone of democracy and calls on the Government of Sudan to cease the harassment and prosecution of public commentators such as journalists and bloggers for peacefully expressing, printing or distributing their political views,
10. Reiterates its support for a transition to an internally reformed democracy and to a broad National Dialogue in Sudan, that should be inclusive and open to the participation of opposition parties as well as civil society, comprehensive, held in a conducive environment, and transparent about the process, the objectives, the timeframe and the way forward,
11. Believes that such dialogue should be accompanied by confidence-building measures including first and foremost an immediate, sustained and verifiable cessation of hostilities and free and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in the conflict areas,
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President, the Government and the National Assembly of Sudan, the EEAS, the Council and the Commission