Amin Mekki Medani

Dr. Amin Mekki Medani

Dr. Amin Mekki Medani is a renowned Sudanese lawyer and human rights defender. He is the president of the Confederation of Sudanese Civil Society, Vice President of Civil Society Initiative, and President of the Sudan Human Rights Monitor (SHRM). Dr. Medani was arrested on December 6, 2014 upon his return from Ethiopia when a large number of personnel from the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), arrived at his home in Khartoum just before midnight on Saturday, 6 December. Although his family was not informed of the reasons for the arrest, it is believed he was arrested for signing the "Sudan Call" on behalf of the Civil Society Initiative. The Sudan Call is a statement signed by representatives from political and armed opposition parties, to work towards the ending of the conflicts in Sudan in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile and build a foundation for a lasting democracy based on equal citizenship and comprehensive peace. The 76 year old faces serious health risks, as he suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes and has been denied his medication. He had been held incommunicado in an unknown location until the 21st of December, 2014, when it was then released that Dr. Medani was being transferred to Kober Prison in Khartoum. On the 22nd of December, Dr. Medani was finally permitted to meet with his lawyers and two days later with his family. On January 10, 2015 he was charged under Article 50 (undermining the constitutional system) and Article 51 (waging war against the state) in the 1991 Criminal Code. His trial before a special court created under the 1991 anti-terror law started on February 23.

Dr. Medani previously served as head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) office in the West Bank and Gaza, Chief of Mission of the OHCHR in Zagreb, Croatia, legal advisor to the Special Representative of the U.N Secretary-General in Iraq as well as Afghanistan, and a Regional Representative for the OHCHR in Beirut, Lebanon. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in comparative Criminal Law.

Dr. Amin Mekki Medani was CONDITIONALLY RELEASED on April 9, 2015.

Updates:

  • Upon his release, Dr. Amin Mekki Medani was subject to a travel ban (May 5, 2015, Dabanga).
  • Due to his travel ban, Dr. Medani was barred from traveling to Egypt to receive medical treatment for kidney disease (December 1, 2017, Dabanga).
  • Dr. Amin Mekki Medani died on August 31, 2018 at age 79 (August 31, 2018, Dabanga). A variety of international organizations and governments released statements on his passing, including the International Federation for Human Rights and the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum (September 3, 2018, FIDH; September 6, 2018, U.S. Embassy Khartoum via Facebook).

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Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
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TLHRC@mail.house.gov

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