HUDO Centre Press Statement For Immediate Release (17th August 2016) COURT TRIAL OF NISS/SUDAN AGAINST PASTORS AND ACTIVIST POSTPONED Sudan court postponed the trial of the three pastors and one social activist from 14th August 2016 to 21st August 2016 amidst the presence of activists and supporters. On 14th August 2016, Khartoum Centre court postponed the announced court hearing to 21 st August 2016 in case of National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) against the pastors Hassan Abduelraheem Kodi, Kuwa Shamal Abu Zumam and Peter (non-Sudanese) with the activist Abduelmoneim Abdalmwlla for the reason of court’s police didn’t brought the defendants from prison to the court yard. The case was opened on 18th May 2016 by NISS at State Security Prosecutor (SSP) office against the pastors and activist. They were accused under article 21, 50, 51, 53, 63 and 64 (war against state) of Sudanese criminal code 1991 after being detained by NISS for a period of five months. On 4th August 2016, the SSP office referred the case to the court and that is when the defendants were transferred from SSP cell to Omdurman prison. One of the activists in the Solidarity Committee with Sudanese Christians commented that, “the pastors with the activist Moneim were imprisoned under very bad condition and that NISS together with SSP intended to keep them for long in detention. Now the court has done the same yet the evidence approved no case against them, just NISS decided to punish them for their rights in attending Addis Ababa conference”. Other activist attributed the case as part of government’s efforts to target Christians. HUDO urges Sudanese activist to attend the court hearing and observe the fairness of the trial and how it follows the international standards of justice. HUDO also urges the embassies in Sudan to observe the trials. End For any further information please contact Hudo2009@gmail.com