NISS Targeting of Nuba Intellectuals and SPLM Members

As fighting continued in South Kordofan, particularly around Kadugli the state capital, the human rights situation is further deteriorating. In Kadugli and El Obeid internally displaced people (IDPs) were terrified by a pattern of systematic arrests which appeared to be targeting Nuba intellectuals and SPLM members.

On June 17th 2011, police and security service surrounded the house of the family of Hamad al Ehemir which is located in the Tadamon neighborhood in the South of the town of El Obeid. The house was searched for 45 minutes after which all family members were arrested and taken to the offices of the security services where they spent the entire day. The family members who were detained are:

1. Asia Hamad Al-Ehemir  -  Administrative officer – Kadugli locality
2. Awatif Hamad Al-Ehemir  - South Kordofan legislative member – SPLM Kadugli
3. Egbal Hamad Al-Ehemir   - Secondary school teacher – El Obied
4. Hussam Hamad Al-Ehemir  - University Graduate
5. Saeed al Noor Saeed  - Lecturer – North Kordofan University – husband of Awatif Hamad al Ehemir
6. Halima Abo Regeb  - housewife

Reports from Kadugli confirmed that the following persons were also arrested by security forces in Kadugli:

1. Abashar Hamad  - SPLA Soldier
2. Abdel Aziz Khalifa Hariga - Kadugli
3. Omer Fadul - State legislative Council
4. Abdel Alim Ibrahim Deenar - SPLM Member

The members of the Al-Ehemir family are seriously concerned about the physical safety of those who have been detained and they are calling for protection for civilians in South Kordofan.