Femena welcomes the release of seven Sudanese women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and journalists who were arbitrarily detained by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nyala, South Darfur. However, we are deeply concerned by credible information indicating that their release remains subject to conditions.
Femena has received confirmation that Ishraqa Abdelrahman, Dr. Manahil Mustafa Al-Sanousi, Mawahib Ibrahim, Zahra Mohamed Al-Hassan, Izdihar Abdelmoneim Hamid, Magda Hassan Ali, and Sara Adam have all been released after approximately six months in detention.
The WHRDs were detained following their participation in, or connection with, a workshop on women’s rights. They were taken from their homes without warrants and held without formal charges, due process, or regular access to their families and lawyers. Serious concerns were also raised about their health and access to adequate medical care during detention.
While their release is a welcome and long-awaited development, conditional release does not amount to full freedom. These WHRDs should never have been detained. Their release does not erase the violations committed against them or the physical and psychological harm caused by months of arbitrary detention.
Femena strongly condemns the targeting, intimidation, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearance of WHRDs and journalists for carrying out legitimate human rights work. Participating in a workshop, documenting violations, reporting information, or advocating for women’s rights, equality, and justice must never be treated as a crime.
We call on the RSF to immediately and unconditionally release the WHRDS and lift all conditions and restrictions imposed upon them. The released WHRDs must be able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms without fear of surveillance, threats, reprisals, or renewed detention. They must also have access to appropriate medical and psychosocial care.
We further call for an independent and transparent investigation into their arrests, treatment, and conditions during detention, and for all those responsible for violations against them to be held accountable.
Femena also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all WHRDs, journalists, and civil society actors who remain arbitrarily detained by the RSF or any other party to the conflict in Sudan. All parties must disclose the fate and whereabouts of those subjected to enforced disappearance, end the persecution of WHRDs for their peaceful work, and guarantee their safety and fundamental freedoms throughout Sudan. WHRDs must be protected, not persecuted.