Sudanese Court postpones 25 West Darfuris’ case

On Thursday, the Anti-Terrorism Special Court in Khartoum postponed the case against 25 people accused of belonging to the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to give the defence team the opportunity to talk with them.

On Thursday, the Anti-Terrorism Special Court in Khartoum postponed the case against 25 people accused of belonging to the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to give the defence team the opportunity to talk with them.

The people were detained in West Darfur by officers of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) several months ago. According to the prosecution, large quantities of arms and ammunition were found in their possession.

The accused were deported from El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, to Khartoum, charged with undermining the constitutional order, terrorism, waging war against the state, forming criminal organisations, and violating the Arms and Ammunition Act, crimes that carry the death penalty if convicted.

The Court requested the former Ministry of Justice to assign lawyers for the defendants as they did not have any during the initial procedural hearing. Yet, the Legal Aid Department of the Ministry withdrew its lawyers before the Thursday session after the arrival of three West Darfuri lawyers in the Sudanese capital to defend the accused.