HUDO Centre Date: 26th February 2025 No.: H.K/PS/07/025 PRESS STATEMENT SERIES OF DEATH PENALTIES AND LONG IMPRISONMENT VERDICTS ISSUED AGAINST CIVILIANS IN BLUE NILE, SUDAN Since December 2024, more than seven death sentences and long imprisonment penalties have been delivered against civilians by the judiciary system in Damazin. All the defendants were accused of waging war against the state under suspicions of being affiliated with the RSF. In June 2024, the security committee in Blue Nile State established a unit named the Joint Security Cell (JSC). This unit consists of SAF-MI, GIS, police, SPLA-N (Agar), and the Islamic militia. Since then, the JSC has been responsible for leading an intensive arbitrary arrest campaign, particularly targeting IDPs who fled to Damazin city seeking refuge after RSF attacks on their towns and villages. Subsequently, courts in Damazin have intervened to serve the political interests of the security committee. In all cases, the complainant was the JSC, and devastating verdicts have been delivered against civilians without affording them sufficient opportunities to defend themselves. In some cases, defendants were denied legal representation, and activist lawyers were threatened for standing up for the victims. The cases that HUDO Centre has observed and confirmed are: 15th December 2024: Mr. Y. A was sentenced to death. 30th December 2024: Mr. A. H. A was sentenced to twenty (20) years of imprisonment. 15th January 2025: Mr. Salah Tayfour Ahmed was sentenced to death. 23rd January 2025: Mr. Adil Eldai Musa was sentenced to death. 27th January 2025: Mr. Ali Eldai Musa (brother of the above) was sentenced to death. 4th February 2025: Mr. Elzain Ahmed Elzain was sentenced to death. 12th February 2025: Mr. Faris Mustafa Hamid was sentenced to twenty-three (23) years of imprisonment. 13th February 2025: Mr. Mohammed Elamein Elnayer was sentenced to death. 25th February 2025: Mr. Farag-Elhum Abduelrahman Amir was sentenced to death All defendants were accused of affiliation and cooperation with the RSF and were tried wholly or partially under the following laws: The Sudan Criminal Code (1991): Articles 21, 50, 51, 52, 56, 65, 174, & 175 The Law on Combating Cybercrimes (2018): Articles 24 & 25