HUDO Centre Date: 17th June 2025 No: H.K/PS/24/025 PRESS STATEMENT JSC ARRESTED MR. MOHAMMED KHABEIR IN DAMAZIN, SUDAN On 22nd May 2025, soldiers from JSC arrested Mr. Mohammed Saleh Khabeir from his house and detained him at their control centre in Damazin. The reason behind his arrest was a Facebook article he had published on his account about corruption. He was held incommunicado up to 8th June 2025 when he was released. On 22nd May 2025, Mr. Mohammed Saleh Khabeir was arrested by soldiers from Joint Security Cell (JSC). JSC soldiers picked him from his house and the reason for the arrest was an article that Mr. Khabeir had published on his Facebook page condemning the corruption taking place within Zakat chamber. Mr. Khabeir was held incommunicado up to the time of his release. On 8th June 2025, Mr. Khabeir was released under unknown conditions and since then, he has refrained from posting on his Facebook page or respond to communication. An activist in Damazin informed HUDO Centre that; since Mr. Khabeir was released his behaviour changed. That he avoids interacting with other people including his friends. That he appears to have been intimidated. Mr. Mohammed Saleh Khabeir is 34 years old. He is an employee at Zakat chamber. Zakat is a religious tax within the Muslim states/ communities’ structure. This tax is collected annually from wealthy Muslims. Damazin is the capital city in Blue Nile State. HUDO Centre is concerned about the safety of civilians in Sudan during this difficult period of fighting between SAF and RSF and calls for the following;  The JSC in Damazin to stop arresting and intimidating civilians.  The head of the security committee in Blue Nile State (the governor) to investigate the circumstances that led to this arrest and make the findings public.  Sudan government to respect the citizen rights of expression. End: For more information, please write to hudo2009@gmail.com