During the September demonstrations against the lifting of fuel subsidies and the ensuing price hikes, 30 children were arrested by the security forces and the police in Khartoum. The children have recently been brought before criminal court judges on charges of rioting. They are detained in \u201cextremely difficult circumstances,\u201d Nafeesa Hajar, one of the defence lawyers told Radio Dabanga.<\/p>\n
The lawyer reported that 22 of them were brought to trial in Omdurman. Four children have to appear before the Judge in the Kalakla Court in Khartoum, and four others in the Halfaya Court in Khartoum North. \u201cThey are treated in a way that violates their rights as children. Eight of them have to miss school because of the trials.\u201d<\/p>\n
The children\u2019s treatment is a violation of the Sudanese Children’s Act of 2010, which prohibits the trial of children in criminal courts, detention in prisons other than juvenile detention centres, or taking children to trial without the presence of the parents, all of which have occured with the 30 juvenile protesters, Hajar noted.<\/p>\n
The Umbadda Court in Omdurman a few days ago issued prison sentences for five of the children, ranging between three and five years, in addition to a fine, on charges of torching and looting a police post and shops.<\/p>\n
File photo: Boys in school uniform during the September demonstrations (Radio Dabanga)<\/em><\/p>\n