HUDO Centre 27th August 2016 Update (1) On COURT TRIAL OF NISS/SUDAN AGAINST PASTORS AND ACTIVIST On 21st August 2016, the court hearing was before Justice Dr. Osama Mohamed Abdalla. The court session was conducted under very tight security whereby the activist and supporters were prevented from attending. The investigator/prosecutor read the details of the charges preferred against the defendants/accused. At the end of the session, the judge announced 29th August 2016 the coming court session for cross-examination of the investigator by the complaint. Background of the case On 18th August 2016, National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested a group of Christian leaders and pastors who were released on different dates except the defendants. They were arrested because of attending the Sudanese and South Sudanese Christian conference that was held in Addis Ababa/ Ethiopia between 17 th – 23rd October 2015. On 18th May 2018, NISS opened a case (No. 41/2016) and transferred the detainees to State Security Prosecution (SSP) office. The accused remained at SSP custody up to 4 th August 2016 when the case was referred to the court. Thereafter, they were transferred to Omdurman prison and days later to Alhuda prison at Omdurman town. The court hearing was scheduled for 14 th August 2016 but it was later postponed because the defendants were not brought from the prison to the court. The 21st August 2016 court hearing was the first session in this trial. Summary of the court session The judge (Dr. Osama Mohamed Abdalla) started the session at Khartoum Centre Court; in attendance was the investigating Counsel (Abdurrahman Ahmed Abdurrahman), complainant, the defendants and their lawyers’ committee which consists of twenty five (25) volunteer lawyers. The Accused/Defendants in their order; 1. Mr. Peter Justin (non-Sudanese). 2. Pastor, Hassan pastors Hassan Abduelraheem Kodi. 3. Pastor, Kuwa Shamal Abu Zumam 4. Activist, Abduelmoneim Abdalmwlla